Information record medium, information record device and method, information reproduction device and method, information recording/reproduction device and method, recording or reproduction control computer program, and data structure containing control signal

ABSTRACT

On an information record medium, there are recorded: a plurality of content informations; and a plurality of play list sets each including a plurality of play list informations defining reproduction sequence thereof. The plurality of content informations, whose reproduction sequences are defined by the plurality of play list informations in a same play list set, are different from each other in reproduction functions required for an information reproduction system to reproduce the plurality of content informations and are adapted to at least partially construct titles, each of which is a logically united information unit and which are same to each other. Required function information indicating the reproduction function required for the information reproduction system is further recorded for each of the plurality of play list informations.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to: an information record medium, such asa high density optical disc, capable of recording thereon variousinformation such as main picture information or video information, audioinformation, sub-picture information, reproduction control information,and so on, at high density; an apparatus for and a method of recordingthe information onto the information record medium; an apparatus for anda method of reproducing the information from the information recordmedium; an apparatus and a method capable of both recording andreproducing the information; a computer program for controlling therecording or reproduction; and a data structure including a controlsignal.

BACKGROUND ART

DVDs become common as optical discs onto which various information suchas main picture information, audio information, sub-picture information,reproduction control information and so on is recorded. According to aDVD standard, the main picture information (video data), the audioinformation (audio data) and the sub-picture information (sub-picturedata) are packetized each with the reproduction control information(navigation data) and are multi-recorded onto a disc in a program streamformat of MPEG 2 (Moving Picture Experts Group phase 2), which is a highperformance encoding technology. Among them, the main pictureinformation has data, which is compressed in a MPEG video format (ISO13818-2), for one stream in one program stream. On the other hand, theaudio information is recorded in a plurality of formats (i.e. linearPCM, AC-3, MPEG audio and so on) and has data for up to 8 streams in oneprogram stream. The sub-picture information is defined by a bitmap, andis compressed and recorded in a run length method, and has data for upto 32 streams in one program stream.

On the other hand, a transport stream format of MPEG2 standard is comingto be standardized, which is suitable for data transfer. According tothe transport stream format, a plurality of elementary streams aretransferred at the same time. For example, a plurality of programs, suchas a plurality of satellite digital broadcasting channels in onesatellite radio wave, are transmitted at the same time in a TDM (TimeDivision Multiplex) scheme.

In an application for recording a DVD of this type, a DVD recorder is onthe market. This recorder is adapted to record one play list as controlinformation or logic information to control the reproduction, so that arecord unit from a start of recording to an end of recording isreproduced as one title (e.g. one movie, one program and so on), whilean inputted record signal is converted into a video recording format andis then recorded.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The conventional DVD as mentioned above, however, does not suitable formulti-recording the main picture made of a plurality of streams, becauseit can only multi-record the main picture made of one stream with theaudio information or the sub-picture information made of a plurality ofstreams. That is, the DVD complying with a MPEG2 program stream formatto record the information cannot basically multi-record a plurality ofprograms transferred at the same time in the aforementioned MPEG2transport stream format.

Even if using a blue laser or the like presents a disc compatible with ahigh density recording or a large volume recording and having a hightransfer rate allowing to record a high vision broadcasting for an orderof 2 hours, an information reproduction system environment variesdepending on the user. For example, with regard to the videoreproduction function, some users have high vision monitors, while someusers have just standard TV receiver. Otherwise, with regard to theaudio reproduction function for example, some users have surroundspeaker systems of 5.1 channels or more, while some users have juststereo systems of 2 channels or even monaural channel. For this, thecontents maker is forced to limit the contents quality so that anyinformation reproduction system, which varies depending on the user, canreproduce the contents, otherwise, the user is forced to purchase theinformation reproduction system compatible with the contentsreproduction quality. Otherwise, in the case that the user purchases adisc on which the high vision content information is already recorded orrecords high vision content information as it is with the aid of a highperformance disc recorder, and then reproduces it, some informationreproduction systems of the user may fail to reproduce it in practice,or may fail to reproduce it with full efficiency of the videoreproduction function and the audio reproduction function thereof.

The present invention has been accomplished in view of the aboveproblems for example. It is therefore an object of the present inventionto provide an information record medium, an information record apparatusand method, an information reproduction apparatus and method, aninformation record reproduction apparatus and method, a computer programfor a record or reproduction control, and a data structure including acontrol signal, which enable the reproduction of all or part of thecontent information, such as the video information or the audioinformation, in conformity with the information reproduction function ofthe user, out of the content information recorded on the informationrecord medium, such as a DVD.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by an informationrecord medium on which there are recorded: a plurality of contentinformations; and a plurality of play list sets each including aplurality of play list informations defining reproduction sequence ofthe plurality of content informations, wherein the plurality of contentinformations, whose reproduction sequences are defined by the pluralityof play list informations in a same play list set, are different fromeach other in reproduction functions required for an informationreproduction system to reproduce the plurality of content informationsand are adapted to at least partially construct titles, each of which isa logically united information unit and which are same to each other,and required function information indicating the reproduction functionis further recorded for each of the plurality of play list informations.

According to the information record medium of the invention, a pluralityof content informations may be stored as object data in an object datafile, for example. Here, the “content information” may be made of mainpicture information (video data), audio information (audio data),sub-picture information (sub-picture data) and the like. Various contentinformations as such may be multiplexed in a transport stream such asthe MPEG2 as mentioned above. Alternatively, it may be multiplexed in aprogram stream of the MPEG2, or may not be multiplexed.

A plurality of play list sets may be stored in a play list informationfile, in a table form for each play list set, for example. Each of aplurality of play list informations composing the play list set is aninformation unit logically accessible by the information reproductionapparatus. The play list information may include pointer informationindicating a logically accessible item for example. Alternatively, itmay include pointer information indicating a collection or assembly ofitems. Here, a plurality of play list informations define thereproduction sequence or sequences for a plurality of contentinformations. For example, each play list information defines areproduction sequence for one content information corresponding to saideach play list information, from among a plurality of contentinformations.

Particularly in the information record medium of the invention, theplurality of content informations, whose reproduction sequences aredefined by the plurality of play list informations in the same play listset, are different from each other in reproduction functions requiredfor the information reproduction system to reproduce them. Furthermore,these content informations are adapted to at least partially constructthe same title. For example, the reproduction sequences of: contentinformation having a data structure in a high vision format; contentinformation having a data structure in an NTSC (National TelevisionSystem Committee) format; content information having a data structure ina surround speaker system format; content information having a datastructure in a monochrome format; content information having a datastructure in a stereo speaker format, content information having a datastructure in a monaural speaker format and so on, all of which composethe same movie as an example of the same title, are defined by the playlist informations included in the same play list set.

The required function information indicates the reproduction function(e.g. a video resolution, an audio channel number, and so on) differentfrom each other and requested for the information reproduction system toreproduce a plurality of content informations composing the same titleas such, and is recorded for each of a plurality of play listinformations. The required function information as such may be recordedin the play list set. More specifically, the required functioninformation may be recorded as a part of attribute information, whichindicates attribute inherent to each play list information and is addedto each play list information, in the play list set. Alternatively, therequired function information may be recorded as a list or tablearranged for each play list information, separately from each play listinformation, in the play list set. Furthermore, for example, therequired function information may be recorded as a part of reproductioncontrol information such as title information and the like stored in adisc information file as mentioned later. Alternatively, the requiredfunction information as such may be stored in an object information fileas mentioned later. In any case, the record position or record format ofthe required function information may be arbitrary, insofar as theinformation reproduction system can obtain the required functioninformation as such, before the content information is reproduced inaccordance with the reproduction sequence defined by the play listinformation.

At the recording of the information record medium, a plurality ofcontent informations composing the same title such as the same TVprogram streamed into the same transfer signal or the same transfer waveand requiring different reproduction functions may be recorded as atransport stream, a program stream or the like, for example in a DVDrecorder application. Alternatively, a plurality of content informationscomposing the same title such as the same movie and requiring differentreproduction functions may be recorded as a transport stream, a programstream or the like for example in a DVD-ROM application.

Therefore, at the reproduction of the information record medium, therequired function information is firstly reproduced. Then, by comparingthe reproduction function indicated by this required functioninformation with a reproduction function of the information reproductionapparatus indicated by a set function information set for theinformation reproduction apparatus owned by the user for example, it ispossible to select one play list information, which defines thereproduction sequence of the content information reproducible by theinformation reproduction apparatus, from among a plurality of play listinformations included in the same play list set recorded in theinformation record medium. Incidentally, the set function informationmay be made of one or more system parameters inputted by the user orpredetermined for the information reproduction apparatus or theinformation reproduction system owned by the user for example.

In this manner, since the play list information is selected, with takinginto account the reproduction functions such as the video reproductionfunction or the video performance, the audio reproduction function orthe audio performance of the information reproduction apparatus, otherreproduction functions relating to the reproduction of the contentinformation, control information or the data information and so on, thecontent information reproducible by the information reproductionapparatus is reproduced appropriately. For example, even in the casethat the same title recorded in the information record medium isreproduced, if it is reproduced by the information reproduction systemincluding a high vision television, the play list information definingthe reproduction sequence of the content information compatible with thehigh vision is selected from the play list set, and thereby the contentinformation compatible with the high vision is reproduced. On the otherhand, if it is reproduced by the information reproduction systemincluding no high vision, the play list information defining thereproduction sequence of the content information compatible with anormal (television) that is not a high vision is selected from the playlist set, and thereby the content information compatible with the normal(television) is reproduced.

As the result, according to the information record medium of theinvention, the content information matched to the reproduction functionof the information reproduction system of the user can be reproduced,from among the content informations such as the video information, theaudio information and the like recorded on the information record mediumsuch as a DVD for example.

In an aspect of the information record medium of the invention, theplurality of content informations include video information and audioinformation, the reproduction function is a video reproductionperformance and an audio reproduction performance required for theinformation reproduction system, the required function information is ofinformation, which indicates the video reproduction performance and theaudio reproduction performance and is recorded for each of the pluralityof play list informations.

According to this aspect, the required function information indicatesthe video reproduction performance (e.g. a video resolution) differentfrom each other or the audio performance (e.g. audio channel number)different from each other, required for the information reproductionsystem to reproduce a plurality of content informations composing thesame title, and is recorded for each of the plurality of play listinformations. Therefore, at the reproduction of the information recordmedium, by comparing the video reproduction performance and audioreproduction performance indicated by the reproduced required functioninformation with video reproduction performance and audio reproductionperformance of the information reproduction system indicated by the setfunction information, it is possible to select one play list informationdefining the reproduction sequence of the content informationreproducible by the information reproduction apparatus. In this manner,since the play list information is selected, with taking into accountthe video reproduction performance and the audio reproductionperformance of the information reproduction apparatus, the contentinformation reproducible by the information reproduction apparatus isappropriately reproduced.

In this aspect relating to the video reproduction performance and theaudio reproduction performance, priority information indicating which ofthe video reproduction performance and the audio reproductionperformance is to be prioritized may be further recorded.

In this arrangement, at the reproduction of the information recordmedium, the priority information is reproduced before the play listinformation is selected. Then, by comparing the video reproductionperformance and the audio reproduction performance indicated by thereproduced required function information with the video reproductionperformance and the audio reproduction performance of the informationreproduction apparatus indicated by the set function information, it ispossible to select any one play list information, in accordance with thereproduced priority information, in the case that a plurality of playlist informations defining the reproduction sequence of the contentinformation reproducible by the information reproduction apparatus existin the same play list.

Here, for example, it is assumed that both content informations, one ofwhich is (i) a combination of the video information reproducible with arelatively high quality video reproduction performance (e.g. the videoinformation compatible with the high vision) and the audio informationreproducible with a relatively low quality audio performance (e.g.2-channel audio information compatible with a stereo speaker) and theother of which is (ii) a combination of the video informationreproducible by the information reproduction apparatus with a relativelylow quality video performance (e.g. the video information compatiblewith a normal television) and the audio information reproducible with arelatively high quality audio performance (e.g. the audio informationcompatible with surround speakers), are recorded in the informationrecord medium, and that the information reproduction apparatus has afunction capable of reproducing both of them. (Incidentally, in thiscase, even if (iii) other content information which is a combination ofthe video information reproducible with a relatively high quality videoperformance and the audio information reproducible with a relativelyhigh quality audio performance is recorded on the information recordmedium, it is assumed that the information reproduction apparatus cannotreproduce this content information because of the transfer rate or thelike.) In this case, if the video reproduction performance is to beprioritized in accordance with the priority information, the play listinformation designating the reproduction sequence in the former case (i)is selected, or if the audio performance is to be prioritized, the playlist information designating the reproduction sequence in the lattercase (ii) is selected. That is, if a plurality of reproducible contentinformations exist, the content information to be reproduced is selectedautomatically, by putting the priority on them, in accordance with thepriority information. Such a priority may be preset or predetermined byan author of the content informations.

Incidentally, the priority indicated by such priority information may beset by default for the reproduction, and may be changed by the userinput for the information reproduction apparatus before or after thereproduction of the priority information.

In this aspect relating to the video information and the audioinformation, the required function information may comprise a requiredfunction information table in which information indicating whether ornot different video reproduction performances are required for each ofpredetermined ranks and information indicating whether or not differentaudio reproduction performances are required for each of predeterminedranks are arranged vertically and horizontally as a matrix.

In such an arrangement, at the reproduction of the information recordmedium, the required function information table is reproduced, beforethe play list information is selected. Then, by comparing the videoreproduction performance and the audio reproduction performanceindicated by the reproduced required function information table, withthe video reproduction performance and the audio reproductionperformance of the information reproduction apparatus indicated by theset function information set for the information reproduction apparatus,it is possible to select one play list information defining thereproduction sequence of the content information obtained by combiningthe video information and the audio information.

Furthermore, since the required function information is listed up in atable format in which functions are classified by predetermined ranks,the reference processing or comparison processing can be performedpromptly. Here, the “functions of predetermined ranks” means, as for thevideo reproduction performance, the functions ranked depending on thepicture quality from higher to lower, for example, in an order from thetop, 720p, 1080i, 480p, 480i . . . of the resolution, and as for theaudio reproduction performance, the functions ranked depending on thesound quality from higher to lower, for example, in an order from thetop, 7.1ch, 5.1ch, 2ch and 1ch of the channel number.

Incidentally, with regard to the set function information set for theinformation reproduction apparatus also, the information indicatingwhether or not it has video reproduction performances for each ofpredetermined ranks and the information indicating whether or not it hasaudio reproduction performances for each of predetermined ranks may beprovided in the information reproduction apparatus, as the set functioninformation table in which these informations are arranged verticallyand horizontally as a matrix.

Furthermore in this case, priority information indicating a priorityamong various combinations of the video reproduction performancesdifferent for each of the predetermined ranks and the audio reproductionperformances different for each of the predetermined ranks may befurther recorded.

In this arrangement, at the reproduction of the information recordmedium, the priority information is reproduced, before the play listinformation is selected. Then, by comparing the video reproductionperformance and the audio reproduction performance indicated by thereproduced required function information with the video performance andthe audio performance of the information reproduction apparatus indictedby the set function information, it is possible to select any one playlist information, in accordance with the reproduced priorityinformation, in the case that a plurality of play list informationsdefining the reproduction sequences of the content informationsreproducible by the information reproduction apparatus exist in the sameplay list. That is, if there is a plurality of reproducible contentinformations, these informations are ranked in accordance with thepriority information, and the content information to be reproduced isselected automatically. Such a priority may be preset or predeterminedby an author of the content informations.

Incidentally, with regard to the priority indicated by such priorityinformation may be set by default for the reproduction, and may bechanged by the user input for the information reproduction apparatusbefore or after the reproduction of the priority information.

In another aspect of the information record medium of the invention,each of the play list informations includes pointer informationdesignating item information, which is a logically accessiblereproduction unit and composes the content information.

According to this aspect, at the reproduction of the information recordmedium, it is possible to identify the item information corresponding tothe content information to be reproduced, in accordance with the pointerinformation included in the play list information. Then, this identifieditem information is accessed to reproduce the item information recordedthereat, so that the desired content information can be reproduced asthe play list element.

Incidentally, the “item information” is a minimum unit for display. Forexample, if the content information is still picture information, theitem information is an information unit corresponding to one or moreimages.

Furthermore, the play list information may include one or more play listelements, and may have the pointer information to designate such iteminformation by a unit of the play list element.

In another aspect of the information record medium of the invention,title information designating at least one play list set from among theplurality of play list sets, which corresponds to the contentinformation to be reproduced, is further recorded to reproduce theplurality of content informations as the title.

According to this aspect, the title information may be stored as a tableformat for each title in the disc information file. Typically, there isa plurality of the title informations for one information record medium.For example, a plurality of title informations may be stored in the discinformation file. The title information acts as a part of thereproduction control information to control the reproduction of thecontent information. The title information designates, so as toreproduce the plurality of content informations as the title which isthe logically united information unit such as one movie or one TVprogram, one or more play list sets corresponding to the contentinformations. Therefore, at the reproduction of the information recordmedium, the title information is designated and thereby the desiredtitle can be reproduced. Furthermore, in the case that the same title isreproduced, it is possible to utilize the reproduction function of theinformation reproduction apparatus as much as possible, with the aid ofthe required function information mentioned above.

In this aspect, the title information may include pointer informationdesignating at least one play list set, which corresponds to the contentinformations to be reproduced.

In this arrangement, at the reproduction of the information recordmedium, it is possible to identify the play list set corresponding tothe content information to be reproduced, in accordance with the pointerinformation included in the title information. Then, this identifiedplay list set is accessed, so that one play list information to definethe reproduction sequence of the content information reproducible by theinformation reproduction apparatus can be selected, from among aplurality of play list informations included in the play list setrecorded thereat.

Incidentally, the title information includes one or more title elementsand may have the pointer information to designate such a play list setby a unit of the title element.

In another aspect of the information record medium of the invention, awhole stream including a plurality of partial streams made of theplurality of content informations is multiplexed by a packet unit whichis a physically accessible unit and stores pieces of the plurality ofcontent informations, and relationship definition information defining arelationship between packets to be multiplexed and the plurality ofpartial streams is further recorded, as reproduction control informationto control a reproduction of the plurality of content informations.

According to this aspect, the whole stream like at least a part of thetransport stream of the MPEG2 includes a plurality of partial streamslike the elementary stream. That is, one “partial stream” herein meansone array of data or array of information, which is an elementarystream, such as a video stream, an audio stream, a sub-picture streamand so on composing a series of the content information. On the otherhand, one “whole stream” herein means data arrangement or informationarrangement made of bundles of a plurality of partial streams. Such awhole stream is multi-recorded onto the information record medium, byunit of packet (e.g. TS packet as mentioned later) which is a unitphysically accessible by the information reproduction apparatus. Thecontent information is made of a plurality of packets, which is a unitlogically accessible by the information reproduction apparatus and eachof which stores pieces of the content information. Furthermore, an ESmap table (ES_Map Table) to indicate a relationship definitioninformation (e.g. elementary stream packet ID as mentioned later(ES_PID)) are further recorded as the reproduction control informationto control the reproduction of the content information.

Therefore, in the information reproduction apparatus, it is possible toreproduce the content information made of a part of the whole streammulti-recorded on the information record medium, on the basis of therelationship between a plurality of packets multiplexed at the same timeand a plurality of partial streams, which may be recorded in therelationship definition information. Furthermore in this case, it ispossible to utilize the reproduction function of the informationreproduction apparatus as much as possible, with the aid of the requiredfunction information.

Incidentally, as for the information record medium mentioned above, theobject data file in which a plurality of content informations are storedmay be recorded in an area on the information record medium, differentlyfrom an area on the information record medium where the play listinformation file in which a plurality of play list sets are stored isrecorded. From among them, the object data file may be multi-recorded inthe transport stream format or the program stream format of the MPEG2.From among them, the play list information file may not bemulti-recorded, in view of an easy and speedy reproduction control.

The information record apparatus according to the present inventionincludes: a first record device for recording a plurality of contentinformations; and a second record device for recording a plurality ofplay list sets each including a plurality of play list informationsdefining reproduction sequence of the plurality of content informations,wherein the plurality of content informations, whose reproductionsequences are defined by the plurality of play list informations in asame play list set, are different from each other in reproductionfunctions required for an information reproduction system to reproducethe plurality of content informations and are adapted to at leastpartially construct titles, each of which is a logically unitedinformation unit and which are same to each other, and said apparatusfurther comprises a third record device for further recording requiredfunction information indicating the reproduction function for each ofthe plurality of play list informations.

According to the information record apparatus of the invention, thefirst record device such as a controller, an encoder, a TS objectgenerator mentioned later, an optical pickup, a cutting device or thelike, records a plurality of content informations onto the informationrecord medium such as a DVD. The second record device such as acontroller, an encoder, an optical pickup, a cutting device or the like,records a plurality of play list sets including a plurality of contentinformations onto the information record medium such as a DVD. The thirdrecord device such as a controller, an encoder, an optical pickup, acutting device or the like, records the required function informationfor each of a plurality of play list informations.

Therefore, the information record medium of the invention mentionedabove (including various aspects thereof) can be recorded relativelyefficiently.

Incidentally, the information record apparatus according to the presentinvention may also take various aspects, corresponding to variousaspects of the information record medium according to the presentinvention as mentioned above.

The information record method according to the present inventionincludes: a first record process of recording a plurality of contentinformations; and a second record process of recording a plurality ofplay list sets each including a plurality of play list informationsdefining reproduction sequence of the plurality of content informations,wherein the plurality of content informations, whose reproductionsequences are defined by the plurality of play list informations in asame play list set, are different from each other in reproductionfunctions required for an information reproduction system to reproducethe plurality of content informations and are adapted to at leastpartially construct titles, each of which is a logically unitedinformation unit and which are same to each other, and said methodfurther comprises a third record process of further recording requiredfunction information indicating the reproduction function for each ofthe plurality of play list informations.

According to the information record method of the invention, the firstrecord process is for recording a plurality of content informations, thesecond record process is for recording a plurality of play list sets,and the third record process is for recording the required functioninformation, onto the information record medium such as a DVD, with theaid of a controller, an encoder, a TS object generator mentioned below,an optical pickup, a cutting device or the like.

Therefore, the information record medium according to the presentinvention as mentioned above (including various aspects thereof) can berecorded relatively efficiently.

Incidentally, the information record method according to the presentinvention may also take various aspects, corresponding to variousaspects of the information record medium according to the presentinvention.

The first information reproduction apparatus according to the presentinvention is for reproducing the information record medium according tothe present invention as mentioned above (including various aspectsthereof), the apparatus includes: a reproduction device capable ofreproducing the plurality of content informations, the plurality of playlist sets and the required function information; and a control devicefor selecting one play list information defining the reproductionsequence of the content information reproducible by the informationreproduction apparatus, from among the plurality of play listinformations included in the same play list set by comparing (i) thereproduction function indicated by the required function informationreproduced by the reproduction device and (ii) reproduction function ofthe information reproduction apparatus indicated by a set functioninformation set for the information reproduction apparatus, andcontrolling the reproduction device to reproduce the content informationin accordance with the reproduction sequence defined by the selectedplay list information.

According to the first information reproduction apparatus of theinvention, the reproduction device such as a controller, a decoder, ademultiplexer, an optical pickup and the like can reproduce the contentinformation, the play list set and the required function information.Then, the control device such as a controller and the like compares (i)the reproduction function indicated by the required function informationreproduced by the reproduction device with (ii) the reproductionfunction of the information reproduction apparatus indicated by the setfunction information set for the information reproduction apparatus.Then, from among a plurality of play list informations included in thesame play list set, one play list information to define the reproductionsequence of the content information reproducible by the informationreproduction apparatus is selected. Furthermore, the reproduction deviceis controlled to reproduce the content information in accordance withthe reproduction sequence defined by the selected play list information.

Therefore, the information record medium according to the presentinvention as mentioned above (including various aspects thereof) can bereproduced relatively efficiently.

In an aspect of the first reproduction apparatus according to thepresent invention, the plurality of content informations includes videoinformation and audio information, the reproduction function is a videoreproduction performance and an audio reproduction performance requiredfor the information reproduction system, the required functioninformation is of information indicating the video reproductionperformance and the audio reproduction performance recorded for each ofthe plurality of play list informations, the set function informationindicates the video reproduction performance and the audio reproductionperformance of the information reproduction apparatus, and the setfunction information includes information indicating whether or not theinformation reproduction apparatus has different video reproductionperformances for each of predetermined ranks and information indicatingwhether or not the information reproduction apparatus has differentaudio reproduction performances for each of predetermined ranks.

According to this aspect, at the time of reproduction of the informationrecord medium, by comparing the video reproduction performance and theaudio reproduction performance indicated by the reproduced requiredfunction information table with the video reproduction performance andthe audio reproduction performance of the information reproductionapparatus indicated by the set function information set for theinformation reproduction apparatus, before the play list information isselected, it is possible to select one play list information definingthe reproduction sequence of the content information obtained bycombining the video information and the audio information reproducibleby the information reproduction apparatus.

In this case, the information indicating whether or not it hasperformances or functions for each of predetermined ranks may be made ofa set function information table in which these informations arearranged vertically and horizontally as a matrix. In such anarrangement, since the set function information is listed up in a tableformat, in which functions or performances are ranked depending onpredetermined ranks, it is possible to perform speedily the referenceprocessing or the comparison processing after then. For example, the setfunction information table indicates the information for eachcombination of the video reproduction performance and the audioreproduction performance of various ranks (i.e. for each cell of thematrix), for example, the information (e.g. a symbol ◯) showing that ithas a function (reproducible), in the case that there are bothfunctions, or the information (e.g. a symbol x) showing that is does nota function (irreproducible), in the case that any one of these functionsdoes not exist.

Incidentally, also with regard to the required function informationcompared with the set function information table as such, theinformation indicating whether or not video performances for each ofpredetermined ranks are required and the information indicating whetheror not audio performances for each of predetermined ranks are requiredmay be recorded on the information record medium, as the requiredfunction information table in which these informations are arrangedvertically and horizontally as a matrix.

The second information reproduction apparatus according to the presentinvention is for reproducing the information record medium in the abovedescribed aspect related to the priority information of the informationrecord medium of the present invention, the apparatus comprising: areproduction device capable of reproducing the plurality of contentinformations, the plurality of play list sets and the required functioninformation; and a control device for selecting one play listinformation defining the reproduction sequence of the contentinformation reproducible by the information reproduction apparatus, fromamong the plurality of play list informations included in the same playlist set by comparing (i) the video reproduction function and the audioreproduction function indicated by the required function informationreproduced by the reproduction device and (ii) video reproductionfunction and audio reproduction function of the information reproductionapparatus indicated by a set function information set for theinformation reproduction apparatus, and controlling the reproductiondevice to reproduce the content information in accordance with thereproduction sequence defined by the selected play list information,wherein the control device selects one play list informationcorresponding to the video reproduction performance or the audioreproduction performance prioritized in accordance with the priorityinformation, from among the plurality of play list informations includedin the same play list.

According to the second information reproduction apparatus of theinvention, the reproduction device such as a controller, a decoder, ademultiplexer, an optical pickup and the like can reproduce the contentinformation, the play list set and the required function information.Then, the control device such as a controller and the like compares (i)the reproduction function indicated by the required function informationreproduced by the reproduction device with (ii) the reproductionfunction of the information reproduction apparatus indicated by the setfunction information set for the information reproduction apparatus.Then, from among a plurality of play list informations included in thesame play list set, one play list information which defines thereproduction sequence of the content information reproducible by theinformation reproduction apparatus and corresponds to the videoreproduction performance and the audio reproduction performance to beprioritized in accordance with the priority information, is selected.Furthermore, the reproduction device is controlled to reproduce thecontent information in accordance with the reproduction sequence definedby the selected play list information.

Therefore, the above described aspect related to the priorityinformation of the information record medium of the present inventioncan be recorded relatively efficiently.

Incidentally, the second information reproduction apparatus according tothe present invention may also take various aspects, corresponding tovarious aspects of the information record medium according to thepresent invention.

The information reproduction method according to the present inventionis for reproducing the information record medium according to thepresent invention (including various aspects thereof), the methodimplemented with an information reproduction apparatus comprising areproduction device capable of reproducing the plurality of contentinformations, the plurality of play list sets and the required functioninformation, the method comprising: a first control process of selectingone play list information defining the reproduction sequence of thecontent information reproducible by the information reproductionapparatus, from among the plurality of play list informations includedin the same play list set by comparing (i) the reproduction functionindicated by the required function information reproduced by thereproduction device and (ii) reproduction function of the informationreproduction apparatus indicated by a set function information set forthe information reproduction apparatus, and a second controlling processof controlling the reproduction device to reproduce the contentinformation in accordance with the reproduction sequence defined by theselected play list information.

According to the information reproduction method of the invention, thefirst control process is for comparing (i) the reproduction functionindicated by required function information reproduced by thereproduction device with (ii) the reproduction function of theinformation reproduction apparatus indicated by the set functioninformation set for the information reproduction apparatus, and therebyselecting one play list defining the reproduction sequence of contentinformation reproducible by the information reproduction apparatus, fromamong a plurality of play list informations included in the same playlist set, with the aid of a controller, a decoder, a demultiplexer, anoptical pickup and the like. Furthermore, the second control process isfor controlling the reproduction device to reproduce the contentinformation in accordance with the reproduction sequence defined by theselected play list.

Therefore, the information record medium of the invention mentionedabove (including various aspects thereof) can be reproduced relativelyefficiently.

Incidentally, the information reproduction method according to thepresent invention may also take various aspects, corresponding tovarious aspects of the information record medium according to thepresent invention as mentioned above.

The information record reproduction apparatus according to the presentinvention includes: a first record device for recording a plurality ofcontent informations; and a second record device for recording aplurality of play list sets each including a plurality of play listinformations defining reproduction sequence of the plurality of contentinformations, wherein the plurality of content informations, whosereproduction sequences are defined by the plurality of play listinformations in a same play list set, are different from each other inreproduction functions required for an information reproduction systemto reproduce the plurality of content informations and are adapted to atleast partially construct titles, each of which is a logically unitedinformation unit and which are same to each other, and said apparatusfurther comprises: a third record device for further recording requiredfunction information indicating the reproduction function for each ofthe plurality of play list informations; a reproduction device capableof reproducing the plurality of content informations, the plurality ofplay list sets and the required function information; and a controldevice for selecting one play list information defining the reproductionsequence of the content information reproducible by the informationreproduction apparatus, from among the plurality of play listinformations included in the same play list set by comparing (i) thereproduction function indicated by the required function informationreproduced by the reproduction device and (ii) reproduction function ofthe information reproduction apparatus indicated by a set functioninformation set for the information reproduction apparatus, andcontrolling the reproduction device to reproduce the content informationin accordance with the reproduction sequence defined by the selectedplay list information.

According to the information record reproduction apparatus of theinvention, since it has both of the above described information recordapparatus of the present invention and the above described firstinformation reproduction apparatus of the present invention, theinformation record medium of the invention (including various aspectsthereof) can be recorded and reproduced relatively efficiently.

Incidentally, the information record reproduction apparatus according tothe present invention may also take various aspects, corresponding tovarious aspects of the information record medium according to thepresent invention.

The information record reproduction method according to the presentinvention includes: a first record process of recording a plurality ofcontent informations; and a second record process of recording aplurality of play list sets each including a plurality of play listinformations defining reproduction sequence of the plurality of contentinformations, wherein the plurality of content informations, whosereproduction sequences are defined by the plurality of play listinformations in a same play list set, are different from each other inreproduction functions required for an information reproduction systemto reproduce the plurality of content informations and are adapted to atleast partially construct titles, each of which is a logically unitedinformation unit and which are same to each other, and said methodfurther comprises: a third record process of further recording requiredfunction information indicating the reproduction function for each ofthe plurality of play list informations; a first control process ofselecting one play list information defining the reproduction sequenceof the content information reproducible by the information reproductionapparatus, from among the plurality of play list informations includedin the same play list set by comparing (i) the reproduction functionindicated by the required function information reproduced by thereproduction device and (ii) reproduction function of the informationreproduction apparatus indicated by a set function information set forthe information reproduction apparatus, and a second controlling processof controlling the reproduction device to reproduce the contentinformation in accordance with the reproduction sequence defined by theselected play list information.

According to the information record reproduction method of theinvention, since it has both of the above described information recordmethod of the present invention and the above described firstinformation reproduction method of the present invention, theinformation record medium of the invention (including various aspectsthereof) can be recorded and reproduced relatively efficiently.

Incidentally, the information record reproduction method according tothe present invention may also take various aspects, corresponding tovarious aspects of the information record medium according to thepresent invention.

The computer program for a record control according to the presentinvention is to control a computer disposed at the information recordapparatus according to the present invention (including various aspectsthereof), the program making the computer function as at least a part ofthe first record device, the second record device and the third recorddevice.

According to the computer program for a record control of the invention,the information record apparatus according to the present inventionmentioned above may be realized relatively easily, by reading andrunning the computer program from a record medium, such as a ROM, aCD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk and so on, storing the computer programtherein/thereon, or by downloading the computer program to the computervia the communication device and running it.

Incidentally, the computer program for a record control according to thepresent invention may also take various aspects, corresponding tovarious aspects of the information record medium according to thepresent invention as mentioned above.

The computer program for a reproduction control according to the presentinvention is to control a computer disposed at the informationreproduction apparatus according to the present invention as mentionedabove (including various aspects thereof), the program making thecomputer function as at least a part of the reproduction device and thecontrol device.

According to the computer program for a reproduction control of theinvention, the information reproduction apparatus according to thepresent invention mentioned above may be realized relatively easily, byreading and running the computer program from a record medium, such as aROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk and so on, storing the computerprogram therein/thereon, or by downloading the computer program to thecomputer via the communication device and running it.

Incidentally, the computer program for a reproduction control accordingto the present invention may also take various aspects, corresponding tovarious aspects of the information record medium according to thepresent invention as mentioned above.

The computer program for a record reproduction control according to thepresent invention is to control a computer disposed at the informationrecord reproduction apparatus according to the present invention asmentioned above (including various aspects thereof), the program makingthe computer function as at least a part of the first record device, thesecond record device, the third record device, the reproduction deviceand the control device.

According to the computer program for a record reproduction control ofthe invention, the information record reproduction apparatus accordingto the present invention mentioned above may be embodied relativelyeasily, by reading and running the computer program from a recordmedium, such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk and so on,storing the computer program therein/thereon, or by downloading thecomputer program to the computer via the communication device andrunning it.

Incidentally, the computer program for a record reproduction controlaccording to the present invention may also take various aspects,corresponding to various aspects of the information record mediumaccording to the present invention as mentioned above.

The data structure including a control signal according to the presentinvention comprising: a plurality of content informations; and aplurality of play list sets each including a plurality of play listinformations defining reproduction sequence of the plurality of contentinformations, wherein the plurality of content informations, whosereproduction sequences are defined by the plurality of play listinformations in a same play list set, are different from each other inreproduction functions required for an information reproduction systemto reproduce the plurality of content informations and are adapted to atleast partially construct titles, each of which is a logically unitedinformation unit and which are same to each other, and said structurefurther comprises required function information indicating thereproduction function for each of the plurality of play listinformations.

According to the data structure including the control signal of theinvention, similarly to the case of the information record mediumaccording to the present invention as mentioned above, it is possible toreproduce the content information matched to the reproduction functionof the information reproduction system of the user, from among thecontent informations such as the video information and the audioinformation recorded on the information record medium such as a DVD.

Incidentally, the data structure including the control signal accordingto the present invention may also take various aspects, corresponding tovarious aspects of the information record medium according to thepresent invention as mentioned above.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by a computerprogram product for a record control in a computer-readable medium fortangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a computerdisposed at the aforementioned information record apparatus according tothe present invention (including various aspects), the program makingthe computer function as at least a part of the first record device, thesecond record device and the third record device.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by a computerprogram product for a reproduction control in a computer-readable mediumfor tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by acomputer disposed at the information reproduction apparatus according tothe present invention (including various aspects), the program makingthe computer function as at least a part of the reproduction device andthe control device.

The above object of the present invention is achieved by a computerprogram product for a record reproduction control in a computer-readablemedium for tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by acomputer disposed at the information record reproduction apparatusaccording to the present invention (including various aspects), theprogram making the computer function as at least a part of the firstrecord device, the second record device, the third record device, thereproduction device and the control device.

According to the computer program product for the record control, thereproduction control, or the record reproduction control of theinvention, at least a part of the first record device, the second recorddevice, the reproduction device and the control device according to thepresent invention mentioned above may be embodied relatively easily, byreading and running the computer program product from a record medium,such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a hard disk and so on, storing thecomputer program therein/thereon, or by downloading the computer programproduct to the computer via the communication device and running it.More specifically, the computer program product may be made of computerreadable codes (or computer readable commands) to make the computerfunction as at least a part of the first record device, the secondrecord device, the third record device, the reproduction device and thecontrol device.

These effects and other advantages of the present invention become moreapparent from the following embodiments and examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates, in its upper part, a general plan view of an opticaldisc as an embodiment of the information record medium of the presentinvention; and illustrates, in its lower part, a schematic conceptualdiagram of an area structure in a radius direction corresponding to thegeneral plan view in the upper part.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic conceptual diagram (FIG. 2( a)) of aconventional program stream of MPEG2; a schematic conceptual diagram(FIG. 2( b)) of a transport stream of MPEG2 used in the embodiment; anda schematic conceptual diagram (FIG. 2 (c)) of a program stream of MPEG2used in the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating a data structure recordedon the optical disc in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram hierarchically illustrating a detail of adata structure in each title shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram hierarchically illustrating a detail of adata structure in each play list set shown in FIG. 3

FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a detail of adata structure in each play list set shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a detail of adata structure of each item shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a logicstructure of data in each title element shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual view schematically illustrating a logic structureof data in each title element shown in FIG. 4, in a case that each playlist set is composed of one play list.

FIG. 10 is a conceptual view schematically illustrating a detail of adata structure in each object shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 is a view schematically illustrating a situation that anelementary stream for a program #1, shown in the upper column, and anelementary stream for a program #2, shown in the middle column, aremultiplexed to form a transport stream for these two programs, on thebasis of a time scale in a horizontal direction.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual view conceptually illustrating an image of TSpackets multiplexed in one transport stream in the embodiment, as apacket arrangement based on the time scale.

FIG. 13 is a view schematically illustrating a logic structure of dataon an optical disc in the embodiment, focusing on development from alogic hierarchy to an object hierarchy or an entity hierarchy.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an informationrecord reproduction apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart indicating a recording operation (part 1) of theinformation record reproduction apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart indicating a recording operation (part 2) of theinformation record reproduction apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a flow chart indicating a recording operation (part 3) of theinformation record reproduction apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 18 is a flow chart indicating a recording operation (part 4) of theinformation record reproduction apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart indicating a reproduction operation of theinformation record reproduction apparatus in the embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a datastructure in the case that the attribute information is stored in theplay list set, in one example of the play list selection in theembodiment.

FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a datastructure in the case that the attribute information is stored in theplay list set, in another example of the play list selection in theembodiment.

FIG. 22 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a datastructure in the variation of the specific example show in FIG. 21, inthe case that the play list set structure is not employed, in anotherexample of the play list selection in the embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a play listselection in the variation shown in FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a datastructure in the case that the attribute information according to theembodiment is stored in the play list selection information stored inthe play list or out of the play list.

FIG. 25 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a play listselection in the specific example shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a fundamentaltheory of selecting the optimum content information for the informationreproduction system in the embodiment.

FIG. 27 is a conceptual diagram indicating a problem that may beoccurred in the fundamental selection shown in FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a processingof selecting the play list from the configuration table and theattribute information in the embodiment.

FIG. 29 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a case thatdifferent play lists are selected depending on whether the play listselection in the embodiment is the video priority or the audio priority.

FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing an operational flow of the selection inthe video priority, in the play list selection of the embodiment.

FIG. 31 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating anoperational flow of the selection in the video priority, in the playlist selection of the embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing an operational flow of the selection inthe audio priority, in the play list selection of the embodiment.

FIG. 33 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating a case thatdifferent configuration tables are generated depending on whether theplay list selection in the embodiment is the video priority or the audiopriority.

FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing the reproduction processing relating toone play list set in the embodiment.

FIG. 35 is a flow chart relating to a generation of the configurationtable in the embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a view conceptually illustrating a general flow of an accessduring a reproduction in the embodiment, showing in association with alogic structure of an optical disc.

FIG. 37 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating ahierarchical structure in a specific example of a title information setin the embodiment.

FIG. 38 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating ahierarchical structure in a specific example of a disc header in theembodiment.

FIG. 39 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating ahierarchical structure in a specific example of title information in theembodiment.

FIG. 40 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating ahierarchical structure in a specific example of a play list set in theembodiment.

FIG. 41 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating ahierarchical structure in a specific example of a play list in theembodiment.

FIG. 42 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating ahierarchical structure in a specific example of a play list element inthe embodiment.

FIG. 43 is a conceptual diagram schematically illustrating ahierarchical structure in a specific example of an item definition tablein the embodiment.

FIG. 44 is a diagram schematically showing a specific example of a datastructure in an AU table constructed in the object information file andan ES map table associated with the AU table, in a specific example ofthe embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

(Information Record Medium)

The information record medium of the present invention is discussed,with reference to its embodiments, as well as FIG. 1 to FIG. 13. Inthese embodiments, the information record medium of the presentinvention is applied to an optical disc capable of recording (writing)and reproducing (reading).

Firstly, with reference to FIG. 1, a fundamental structure of theoptical disc in an embodiment is discussed. FIG. 1 illustrates, in itsupper part, a general plan view of the optical disc structure having aplurality of areas, and illustrates conceptually, in its lower part, anarea structure in the radius direction corresponding to the upper part.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical disc 100 may be recorded by variousrecord methods, such as a magneto-optical method, a phase change method,capable of recording (writing) only once or a plurality of times.Similarly to DVDs, the optical disc 100 has a lead-in area 104, a dataarea 106 and a lead-out area 108, from the inner circumference around acenter hole 102 to the outer circumference, on the record surface of thedisc body measuring about 12 cm in diameter. In each area, groove tracksand land tracks may be alternately arranged, concentrically or spirallyaround the center hole 102. The groove tracks may be wobbled.Furthermore, pre-pits may be formed on one or both of these tracks.Incidentally, the present invention is not exclusively limited to theoptical disc having three areas mentioned above.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, the structures of the transport stream(TS) and the program stream (PS) to be recorded onto the optical disc inthe embodiment are discussed. FIG. 2 (a) schematically illustrates aMPEG2 program stream of a conventional DVD for a comparison, FIG. 2 (b)schematically illustrates a MPEG2 transport stream (TS) structure.Furthermore, FIG. 2( c) schematically illustrates a MPEG2 program streamstructure in the present invention.

In FIG. 2( a), one program stream to be recorded in the conventional DVDincludes only one video stream for video data as main pictureinformation, along the time axis t, and further includes up to 8 audiostreams of audio data as audio information, up to 32 sub-picture streamsfor sub-picture data as sub-picture information. That is, the video datato be multiplexed at an arbitrary time point tx relates to only onevideo stream. For example, a plurality of video stream corresponding toa plurality of TV programs or a plurality of movies can not be includedat the same time in the program stream. It is not possible to multiplexa plurality of TV programs and transfer or record them, in a programstream format of a DVD having only one video stream, because at leastone video stream is required for each TV program, in order to transferor record the multiplexed TV program or the like involving a videoimage.

In FIG. 2( b), one transport stream (TS) to be recorded in the opticaldisc 100 of the present invention includes a plurality of video streamsas elementary streams (ES) for video data as main picture information,and further includes a plurality of audio streams as elementary streams(ES) for audio data as audio information and a plurality of sub-picturestreams as elementary streams (ES) for sub-picture as sub-pictureinformation. That is, the video data to be multiplexed at an arbitrarytime point tx relates to a plurality of video streams. For example, aplurality of video streams that may correspond to a plurality of TVprograms or a plurality of movies can be included at the same time inthe transport stream. Thus, it is possible to multiplex a plurality ofTV programs and transfer or record them, in the transport stream formathaving a plurality of video streams. However, the sub-picture stream isnot transferred in a digital broadcasting employing the existingtransport stream.

In FIG. 2( c), one program stream (PS) to be recorded onto the opticaldisc 100 of the present invention includes a plurality of video streamsfor video data as main picture information, and further includes aplurality of audio streams for audio data as audio information and aplurality of sub-picture streams for sub-picture data as sub-pictureinformation. That is, the video data to be multiplexed at an arbitrarytime point tx relates to a plurality of video streams. For example, aplurality of video streams that may correspond to a plurality of TVprograms or a plurality of movies can be included at the same time inthe program stream.

Incidentally, for convenience of explanation, the video stream, theaudio stream and the sub-picture stream are arranged in this order fromthe top in FIG. 2( a) to FIG. 2( c). Nevertheless, this order orsequence does not correspond to an order or sequence for multiplexingpacket by packet as mentioned below. In the transport stream,conceptually, a set of one video stream, two audio streams and twosub-picture streams corresponds to one program for example.

The optical disc 100 in the aforementioned embodiment is adapted tomulti-record the transport stream (TS) as shown in FIG. 2( b), i.e. torecord a plurality of programs at the same time. Furthermore, instead ofor in addition to this transport stream, the program stream (PS) asshown in FIG. 2( c) can be multi-recorded onto the same optical disc100.

Next, with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 10, a structure of data to berecorded onto the optical disc 100 is discussed. FIG. 3 schematicallyillustrates the data structure to be recorded onto the optical disc 100.FIG. 4 schematically illustrates in detail the data structure in eachobject shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 schematically show a datastructure in detail respectively in each play list (P list) set shown inFIG. 3. FIG. 7 schematically shows a detail of the data structure ofeach item shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 8 schematically shows a logic structureof data in each title element shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 schematicallyshows a logic structure of data in each title element, in a case thateach play list set is composed of one play list. FIG. 10 schematicallyshows a detail of a data structure in each object shown in FIG. 3.

In the following explanation, the “title” means a reproduction unit, onthe basis of which a plurality of “play lists” are executed continuouslyor sequentially, and which is a logically large grouped unit, such asone movie or one TV program. The “play list set” means a bundle of “playlists”. For example, it may be a bundle of play lists to reproduce aplurality of content information having a special relationshipswitchable to each other in an angle reproduction or a parentalreproduction, or may be a bundle of play lists to reproduce contentinformation relating to a plurality of programs broadcasted in the sametime zone and collectively recorded. Alternatively, it may be a bundleof play lists to reproduce various content information, in one title,prepared on the basis of required function, for example on the basis ofvideo performance or audio performance required for the informationreproduction system, such as a high vision compatibility, a displayresolution, a surround speaker compatibility, a speaker layout and soon. The “play list” is information for storing the information requiredto reproduce the “object” and consists of a plurality of “items” eachstoring the information about a reproduction range of the object toaccess the object. The “object” is the entity information of contentsconstructing the aforementioned MPEG2 transport stream.

In FIG. 3, the optical disc 100 is provided with four files as a logicalstructure: a disc information file 110; a play list (P list) informationfile 120; an object information file 130; and an object data file 140.The disc 100 is further provided with a file system 105 for managingthese files. Incidentally, although FIG. 3 does not show directly thephysical data arrangement on the optical disc 100, it is possible toperform the recording in such a manner that the arrangement shown inFIG. 3 corresponds to another arrangement shown in FIG. 1. That is, itis possible to record the file system 105 or the like in the data recordarea 106 following the lead-in area 104 and further record the objectdata file 140 or the like in the data record area 106. The filestructure shown in FIG. 3 can be constructed, even without the lead-inarea 104 or the lead-out area 108 shown in FIG. 1.

The disc information file 110 is a file for storing general informationabout the entire optical disc 100, and stores the disc generalinformation 112, the title information table 114 and other information118. The disc general information 112 may store the total numbers oftitles or the like in the optical disc 100. The title information table114 includes a title pointer 114-1 and a plurality of titles 200 (title#1-#m) whose ID (identification) number or record address is indicatedby the title pointer. In each title 200, each title type (e.g.sequential reproduction type, branch type and so on), or the play list(P list) number constructing each title is recorded for each title, asthe logical information.

More specifically, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, each title 200 ismade of a title general information 200-1, a plurality of title elements200-2 and other information 200-5. Furthermore, each title element 200-2is made of a pre-command 200PR, a pointer 200PT to a play list set, apost command 200PS and other information 200-6.

The pointer 200PT as an example of the first pointer informationaccording to the present invention indicates an ID number of the playlist set 126S stored in the play list information file 120 correspondingto content information to be reproduced on the basis of the titleelement 200-2 including the pointer 200PT. Incidentally, the pointer200PT may be information to indicate a record position of the play listset 126S corresponding to the content information to be reproduced onthe basis of the title element 200-2. The pre-command 200PR as anexample of the first pre-command according to the present inventionindicates a command to be executed before reproducing the contentinformation whose reproduction sequence is defined by one play list set126S designated by the pointer 200PT. The post command 200PS as anexample of the first post command according to the present invention isa command to be executed after reproducing the content information whosereproduction sequence is defined by said one play list set. Otherinformation 200-5 included in the title element 200-2 may include nextinformation to designate a title element for a next reproduction afterthe present reproduction of the present title element, for example.

Therefore, when the information reproduction apparatus reproduces theinformation record medium, the desired content information can bereproduced as a title element 200-2, by making access to the play listset 126S in accordance with the pointer 200PT and performing a controlto select play list corresponding to the desired program or the likefrom among a plurality of play lists 126 in the play list set 126S.Furthermore, reproducing such a title element 200-2 solely orsequentially makes it possible to reproduce one title 200. Furthermore,it is possible to execute commands to be executed before reproduction,in the content information whose reproduction sequence is defined by oneplay list set 126S designated by the pointer 200PT, according to thepre-command 200PR. Furthermore, it is possible to execute commands to beexecuted after the reproduction, in the content information whosereproduction sequence is defined by one play list set 126S designated bythe pointer 200PT, according to the post command 200PS. The post command200PS may be a command to branch the content information, a command toselect a next title and so on. Additionally, it is possible to reproducea next title element 200-2 to be reproduced after the presentlyreproduced title element 200-2, according to the “next information”included in other information 200-5.

Again in FIG. 3, the play list information file 120 stores the play list(P list) information table 121 indicating the logical structure of eachplay list. This table 121 is divided into the play list (P list)management information 122, the play list (P list) set pointer 124, aplurality of play list (P list) sets 126S (P list set #1-#n), and otherinformation 128. In this play list information table 121, the logicalinformation of each play list set 126S is stored in the order of theplay list set number. In other words, the order for storing the eachplay list set 126S is the play list set numbers. Furthermore, in theaforementioned title information table 114, the same play list set 126Scan be referred from a plurality of titles 200. That is, the play listset #p in the play list information table 121 may be pointed on thetitle information table 114, even in the case that title #q and title #ruse the same play list set #p.

As shown in FIG. 5, the play list set 126S includes play list setgeneral information 126-1, a plurality of play lists 126 (play list#1-#x), an item definition table 126-3, and other information 126-4.Each play list 126 includes a plurality of play list elements 126-2(play list element #1-#y), and other information 126-5. Furthermore,each play list element 126-2 includes a pre-command 126PR, a pointer126PT to item, a post command 126PS and other information 126-6.

The pointer 126PT as an example of the second pointer informationaccording to the present invention indicates an item identificationnumber defined by the item definition table 126-3 corresponding to thecontent information to be reproduced on the basis of the play listelement 126-2 including the pointer 126PT. Incidentally, the pointer126PT may be an item record position defined by the item definitiontable 126-3.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the play list set 126S, a plurality of items 204are defined in the item definition table 126-3. They are commonlybelonged to a plurality of play lists 126. Furthermore, as the play listset general information 126-1, a name of each play list 126 included inthe play list set 126S, UI (user interface information) such as areproduction time, address information to each item definition table126-3 and so on are recorded.

Again in FIG. 5, the pre-command 126PR as an example of the secondpre-command according to the present invention indicates a command to beexecuted before reproduction of one item 204 designated by the pointer126PT. The post command 126PS as an example of the second post commandaccording to the present invention indicates a command to be executedafter the reproduction of said one item 204. Other information 126-6included in the play list element 126-2 may include the next informationto designate the play list element 126-2 relating to the nextreproduction of the reproduction of the play list element 126-2.

As shown in FIG. 7, the item 204 is a minimum unit to be displayed. Inthe item 204, “in-point information” to indicate a start address of anobject and “out-point information” to indicate an end address of theobject are recorded. Incidentally, each of these “in-point information”and “out-point information” may indicate the address directly orindirectly as a time period or time point on the reproduction timescale. In the figure, if a plurality of ESs (Elementary Streams) aremultiplexed for the object designated by “stream object #m”, designatingthe item 204 means designating a special ES or special combination ofESs.

As shown in FIG. 8, the title element 200-2 logically consists of thepre-command 200PR or 126PR, the play list set 126S selected by thepointer 200PT, the post command 200PT or 126PS, and the next information200-6N. Therefore, a processing to select the play list 126 from amongthe play list set 126S is executed, according to any conditionreproducible in a system, such as video resolution.

As shown in FIG. 9, however, if the play list set designated by thepointer 200PT consists of only one play list, i.e. if the play list set126S shown in FIG. 3 is replaced by a single play list 126, the titleelement 200-2 logically consists of the pre-command 200PR or 126PR, theplay list 126 to be reproduced during the reproduction operation, thepost command 200PS or 126PS, and the next information 200-6N. In thiscase, once the play list set is designated for the reproduction, thesingle play list 126 is reproduced, regardless of the conditionreproducible in the system.

Again in FIG. 3, in the object information file 130, the storageposition (i.e. the logical address of the reproduction object) in theobject data file 140 for each item constructed in each play list 126,and/or various attribute information relating to the reproduction of theitem are stored. Particularly in this embodiment, the object informationfile 130 stores the AU table 131 including a plurality of AU (AssociateUnit) information 132I (AU #1-#q) as mentioned below, the ES (ElementaryStream) map table 134 and other information 135.

The object data file 140 stores a plurality of TS objects 142 for eachtransport stream (TS #1 object-TS #s object), i.e. entity data ofcontents to be actually reproduced.

Incidentally, four kinds of file discussed with reference to FIG. 3 canbe further divided into a plurality of files respectively to be stored.All these files may be managed by the file system 105. For example, theobject data file 140 can be divided into a plurality of files such asobject data file #1, object data file #2 and so on.

As shown in FIG. 10, the TS object 142 shown in FIG. 3, as a logicallyreproducible unit, may be divided into a plurality of aligned units 143each having 6 kB of data amount. The head of the aligned units 143 isaligned with the head of the TS object 142. Each aligned unit 143 isfurther divided into a plurality of source packets 144 each having 192 Bof data amount. The source packet 144 is a physically reproducible unit,on the basis of which (i.e. packet by packet) at least the video data,the audio data and the sub-picture data from among the data on theoptical disc 100 are multiplexed, and other information may bemultiplexed in the same manner. Each source packet 144 includes thecontrol information 145 having 4 B of data amount to control thereproduction, such as the packet arrival time stamp or the likeindicating the reproduction start time point of the TS (TransportStream) packet on the reproduction time scale, and includes the TSpacket 146 having 188 B of data amount. The TS packet 146 (also referredto as “TS packet payload”) has a packet header 146 a at its headportion. The video data may be packetized as the “video packet”, theaudio data may be packetized as the “audio packet”, or the sub-picturedata may be packetized as the “sub-picture packet”, otherwise other datamay be packetized.

Next, with reference to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12, an explanation is made onthe multi-recording of the video data, the audio data, the sub-picturedata and the like in the transport stream format as shown in FIG. 2( b),by the TS packet 146 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 11 conceptually illustratesthat the elementary stream (ES) for program #1 (PG1) in the upper stageand the elementary stream (ES) for program #2 (PG2) in the middle stageare multiplexed, and the transport stream (TS) for these two programs(PG1&2) is formed, under an assumption that a horizontal axis is definedas a time axis. FIG. 12 conceptually illustrates an image of the TSpackets multiplexed in one transport stream (TS), as a packet arrayalong the time (sic).

As shown in FIG. 11, the elementary stream for program #1 (in the upperstage) may be formed by discretely arranging TS packets 146 obtained bypacketizing the video data for program #1, along the time axis. Theelementary stream for program #2 (in the middle stage) may be formed bydiscretely arranging TS packets obtained by packetizing the video datafor program #2, along the time axis. Then, these TS packets 146 aremultiplexed so that the transport stream (in the lower stage) for twoprograms is made. Incidentally, omitted for convenience of explanationin FIG. 11, the elementary stream made of TS packets obtained bypacketizing the audio data as the elementary stream for program #1,and/or the sub-picture stream made of TS packets obtained by packetizingthe sub-picture data may be multiplexed similarly, as shown in FIG. 2(b). In addition to this, the elementary stream made of TS packetsobtained by packetizing the audio data, as the elementary stream forprogram #2, and the sub-picture stream made of TS packets obtained bypacketizing the sub-picture data may be multiplexed similarly.

As shown in FIG. 12, in this embodiment, a plurality of TS packets 146multiplexed as such forms one TS stream. Then, a plurality of TS packets146 in the multiplexed form is multi-recorded onto the optical disc 100,with the information such as the packet arrival time stamp 145 and thelike being added. Incidentally, in FIG. 12, the TS packet 146 consistingof the data forming program #i (i=1, 2, 3) is indicated by “element(i0j)”, wherein, j (j=1, 2, . . . ) is a sequential number for eachstream composing the program. This (i0j) is defined as a packet ID whichis an identification number of the TS packet 146 for each elementarystream. This packet ID is fixed at an inherent value for a plurality ofTS packets 146 to be multiplexed at the same time point, so that theplurality of TS packets 146 are distinguished from each other even ifmultiplexed at the same time point.

Furthermore, in FIG. 12, the PAT (Program Association Table) and the PMT(Program Map Table) are also packetized by the TS packet 146 unit andmultiplexed. The PAT among them stores a table indicating a plurality ofPMT packet IDs. Particularly, the PAT is defined by MPEG2 standard sothat (000) is given as a predetermined packet ID, as shown in FIG. 12.That is, from among a plurality of packets multiplexed at the same timepoint, the TS packet 146 obtained by packetizing the PAT is detected, asthe TS packet 146 whose packet ID is (000). The PMT stores a tableindicating the packet ID for each elementary stream forming each programin one or more programs. Any packet ID can be given to the PMT, theirpacket IDs are indicated by the PAT detectable with the packet ID (000)as mentioned above. Therefore, among a plurality of packets multiplexedat the same time point, the TS packets 146 obtained by packetizing thePMT (i.e. TS packets 146 to which packet IDs (100), (200) and (300) aregiven in FIG. 12) are detected on the basis of the PAT.

In the case that the transport stream as shown in FIG. 12 is transferreddigitally, the tuner refers to the PAT and the PMT constructed as suchand thereby extracts the multiplexed packets corresponding to thedesired elementary stream and decodes the extracted packets.

In this embodiment, these PAT and PMT are included as the TS packets 146to be stored in the TS object 142 shown in FIG. 10. That is, when thetransport stream as shown in FIG. 12 is transferred, the transferredstream can be directly recorded onto the optical disc 100, which is agreat advantage.

Furthermore in this embodiment, these PAT and PMT recorded as such arenot referred to when the optical disc 100 is reproduced. Instead,referring to the AU table 131 and the ES map table 134, shown in FIG. 3and mentioned in detail later, makes it possible to perform thereproduction effectively and apply to the complicated multi-visionreproduction or the like. For this, in this embodiment, a relationshipbetween packets and the elementary stream obtained by referring to thePAT and the PMT on decoding or recording for example is stored in theobject information file 130, in a form of AU table 131 and ES map table134, without packetizing or multiplexing.

Next, with reference to FIG. 13, the logical structure of data on theoptical disc 100 is discussed. FIG. 13 schematically illustrates thelogical structure of data on the optical disc 100, focusing on thedevelopment from the logic hierarchy to the object hierarchy or theentity hierarchy.

In FIG. 13, one or more titles 200 that are a logical large unit such asone movie or one TV program are recorded on the optical disc 100. Eachtitle 200 includes one or more title elements 200-2. Each title element200-2 logically consists of a plurality of play list sets 126S. In eachtitle element 200-2, the plurality of play list sets 126S may have asequential structure or may have a branch structure.

Incidentally, in the case of a simple logical structure, one titleelement 200-2 consists of one play list set 126S. Furthermore, one playlist set 126S consists of one play list 126. On the other hand, it ispossible to refer to one play list set 126S by a plurality of titleelements 200-2 or a plurality of titles 200.

Each play list 126 is logically made of a plurality of items (playitems) 204. In each play list 126, a plurality of items 204 may have thesequential structure or may have the branch structure. On the otherhand, it is possible to refer to one item 204 by a plurality of playlists 126. The aforementioned in-point information and out-pointinformation recorded on/in the item 204 logically designates thereproduction range of the TS object 142. Then, the object information130 d of the logically designated reproduction range is referred to andthereby the reproduction range of the TS object 142 is physicallydesignated, via the file system finally. Here, the object information130 d includes various information to reproduce the TS object 142, suchas the attribute information of the TS object 142, the ES addressinformation 134 d and the like required for the data search in the TSobject 142 (Incidentally, the ES map table 134 shown in FIG. 3 includesa plurality of ES address information 134 d).

Then, when the information record and reproduce apparatus reproduces theTS object 142 as mentioned below, a physical address to be reproduced inthe TS object 142 is obtained from the item 204 and the objectinformation 130 d so that a desired elementary stream is reproduced.

Incidentally, the EP (Entry Pass) map including a plurality of ESaddress information 134 d, shown within the object information of FIG.13, herein indicates an object information table in which the AU table131 and the ES map table 134 are listed.

Thus, in this embodiment, the in-point information and out-pointinformation recorded on/in the item 204, as well as the ES addressinformation 134 d recorded in the ES map table 134 (see FIG. 3) of theobject information 130 d make it possible to perform the associationfrom the logic hierarchy to the object hierarchy in the reproductionsequence so that the elementary stream is reproduced.

As discussed above, in this embodiment, units of the TS packet 146 aremultiplexed and recorded on the optical disc 100. Thereby, the transportstream including a plurality of elementary streams as shown in FIG. 2(b) can be recorded onto the optical disc 100. In this embodiment, in thecase that digital broadcasting is recorded onto the optical disc 100, aplurality of programs can be recorded at the same time, within therestriction of the record rate. Nevertheless, a record method isemployed herein, in which a plurality of programs are multiplexed andrecorded for one TS object 142. Now, an explanation is made on anembodiment of the information record reproduction apparatus capable ofperforming such a record processing.

(Information Record Reproduction Apparatus)

Next, with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG. 19, an embodiment of theinformation record reproduction apparatus of the present invention isdiscussed. Here, FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the information recordreproduction apparatus, and FIGS. 15 to 19 illustrate the operationalflow.

In FIG. 14, the information record reproduction apparatus 500 is roughlydivided into a reproduction system and a record system. The apparatus500 is constructed to record the information onto the optical disc 100mentioned above and reproduce the information recorded thereon/therein.In this embodiment, the information record reproduction apparatus 500 isthus for recording and reproduction. Nevertheless, an embodiment of theinformation record apparatus according to the present invention can beconstructed basically with the record system of the apparatus 500 and anembodiment of the information reproduction apparatus according to thepresent invention can be constructed basically with the reproductionsystem of the apparatus 500.

The information record reproduction apparatus 500 is provided with: anoptical pickup 502; a servo unit 503; a spindle motor 504; a decoder506; a demultiplexer 508; a video decoder 511; an audio decoder 512; asub-picture decoder 513; an adder 514; a still picture decoder 515; asystem controller 520; a memory 530; a memory 540; a memory 550; amodulator 606; a formatter 608; a TS object generator 610; a videoencoder 611; an audio encoder 612; and a sub-picture encoder 613. Thesystem controller 520 includes a file system/logical structure datagenerator 521 and a file system/logical structure data reader 522.Furthermore, the memory 530 and a user interface 720 to give a userinput such as title information are connected to the system controller520.

Among these constitutional elements, the decoder 506, the demultiplexer508, the video decoder 511, the audio decoder 512, the sub-picturedecoder 513, the adder 514, the still picture decoder 514, the memory540 and the memory 550 mainly constructs the reproduction system. On theother hand, among these constitutional elements, the modulator 606, theformatter 608, the TS object generator 610, the video encoder 611, theaudio encoder 612 and the sub-picture encoder 613 mainly constructs therecord system. The optical pickup 502, the servo unit 503, the spindlemotor 504, the system controller 520, the memory 530 and the userinterface 720 to give the user input such as title information aregenerally shared for both the reproduction system and the record system.Furthermore, for the record system, a TS object data source 700 (or a PSobject data source 700, or a still picture data source 700 such as bitmap data, JPEG data and the like); a video data source 711; an audiodata source 712; and a sub-picture data source 713 are prepared.Furthermore, the file system/logical structure data generator 521disposed in the system controller 520 is used mainly in the recordsystem, and the file system/logical structure reader 522 is used mainlyin the reproduction system.

The optical pickup 502 irradiates the optical disc 100 with a light beamLB such as a laser beam, at the first power as reading light for thereproduction, and at the second power with the light beam LB beingmodified as writing light for recording. The servo unit 503 performs thefocus servo, the tracking servo and the like for the optical pickup 502,as well as the spindle servo for the spindle motor 504, under control ofthe control signal Sc1 outputted from the system controller 520, duringthe reproduction and recording. The spindle motor 504 is controlledunder the spindle servo by the servo unit 503, for rotating the opticaldisc 100 at a predetermined speed.

(i) Structure and Operation of Record System

Next, with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG. 18, a specific structure and theoperation of each constitutional element constructing the record systemof the information record and reproduction system 500 is explained ineach case.

(i-1) In the Case that the Already Generated Object is Used

This case is discussed, with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15.

In FIG. 14, the TS object data source 700 may be made of the memorystorage such as a video tape, a memory, for storing the TS object dataD1.

Firstly in FIG. 15, each title information (e.g. play list contentsetc.) to be logically constructed on the optical disc 100 using the TSobject data D1 is inputted into the system controller 520, as the userinput I2 such as the title information, via the user interface 720.Then, the system controller 520 imports the user input I2 such as thetitle information via the user interface 720 (step S21: Yes, and stepS22). In this case, the user interface 720, under control of the controlsignal Sc4 from the system controller 520, can perform the inputoperation in response to the contents to be recorded, such as theselection via the title menu screen. Incidentally, if the user input isalready performed (step S21: No), these processings are omitted.

Next, the TS object data source 700 outputs the TS object data D1, undercontrol of the control signal Sc8 to indicate the data reading from thesystem controller 520. Then, the system controller 520 imports the TSobject data D1 from the TS object data source 700 (step S23), andperforms the data array analysis (e.g. a record data length and thelike) of the TS object data D1, the analysis of each elementary streamstructure (e.g. understanding of ES_PID (elementary stream/packetidentification number)), on the basis of the PAT, the PMT and the likepacketized with the video data as mentioned above, due to the TSanalysis feature in the file system/logical structure data generator 521(step S24).

Next, the system controller 520 makes the file system/logical structuredata generator 521 generate the disc information file 110, the play listinformation file 120, the object information file 130 and the filesystem 105 (see FIG. 3), as the logical information file data D4, on thebasis of the analysis result of each elementary stream and the TS objectdata D1 data array, as well as the user input I2 such as the importedtitle information (step S25). The memory 530 is used to generate thislogical information file data D4.

Incidentally, variations in which the data about each elementary streamstructure information and the TS object data D1 data array may beprepared in advance are naturally understood or suggested, all of whichare encompassed within a scope of the embodiment.

In FIG. 14, the formatter 608 is for formatting the data array to storeboth the TS object data D1 and the logical information file data D4 onthe optical disc 100. More specifically, the formatter 608 is providedwith a switch Sw1 and a switch Sw2 and is switching-controlled by aswitch control signal Sc5 from the system controller 520. Whenformatting the TS object data D1, it connects the switch Sw1 to a{circle around (1)} side and the switch Sw2 to the {circle around (1)}side so as to output the TS object data D1 from the TS object datasource 700. Incidentally, the transmission control of the TS object dataD1 is performed by the control signal Sc8 from the system controller520. On the other hand, when formatting the logical information filedata D4, the formatter 608 is switching-controlled by the switch controlsignal Sc5 from the system controller 520, and connects the switch Sw2to a {circle around (2)} side so as to output the logical informationfile data D4.

At step S26 in FIG. 15, (i) the logical information file data D4 fromthe file system/logical structure data generator 521 at the step S25 or(ii) the TS object data D1 from the TS object data source 700 isoutputted through the formatter 608, under the switching-control by theformatter 608 as constructed above (step S26).

The selection output from the formatter 608 is transmitted to themodulator 606 as disc image data D5, and modulated by the modulator 606,and recorded onto the optical disc 100 through the optical pickup 502(step S27). The system controller 520 also executes the disc recordcontrol in this case.

Then, if both the logical information file data D4 generated at the stepS25 and the corresponding object data D1 have not been completelyrecorded yet, the operational flow returns to the step S26 to continuethe recording (step S28: No). Incidentally, there is no preference inthe record sequence of the logical information file data D4 and thecorresponding object data D1.

On the other hand, if the both have been already recorded, it is judgedwhether or not the recording onto the optical disc 100 is to be ended,on the basis of the presence or absence of an end command (step S29). Ifit is not to be ended (step S29: No), the operational flow returns tothe step S21 to continue the recording. On the other hand, if it is tobe ended (step S29: Yes), a series of record processing ends.

As described above, the information record reproduction apparatus 500performs the record processing in the case of using the already preparedTS object.

Incidentally, the example in FIG. 15 shows that the logical informationfile data D4 and the corresponding object data D1 are outputted at thestep S26, after preparing the logical information file data D4 at thestep S25. However, it is also possible to output the object data D1and/or record the object data D1 onto the optical disc 100 before thestep S25, so that the logical information file data D4 is generatedand/or recorded after or in parallel with this recording.

Additionally, a PS object data source or a still picture data source maybe used instead of the TS object data source 700. In this case, therecording processing the same as in the case of the TS object data D1 asmentioned above is performed for the PS object data, or the sill picturedata such as bit map data, JPEG data and the like, instead of the TSobject data D1. Furthermore, instead of the TS object 142, the PS objectdata or the still picture data is stored in the object data file 140.Then, various logic information about the PS object data or the stillpicture data is generated under control of the system controller 520,and stored in the disc information file 110, the play list informationfile 120, the object information file 130 and the like.

(i-2) The Case of Receiving and Recording the Transport Stream on Air

This case is explained with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 16.Incidentally, in FIG. 16, the same steps as those in FIG. 15 have thesame step reference numbers, and their explanation is omitted asoccasion demands.

Again, in this case, the similar processing is performed, as is “thecase of using the already prepared object” described above. Therefore,the following explanation is focused on the differences from this case.

In the case of receiving and recording the transport stream on air, theTS object data source 700 is provided with a receiver (set top box) forreceiving the digital broadcast on air, for example, receives the TSobject data D1, and transmits it to the formatter 608 in real time (stepS41). At the same time, reception information D3 (i.e. informationcorresponding to the data transmitted through the receiver and theinterface of the system controller 520) including the programconstruction information and the belowmentioned ES_PID information,which are deciphered upon receiving, is imported into the systemcontroller 520 and is stored into the memory 530 (step S44).

In the meantime, the TS object data D1 outputted to the formatter 608 isoutputted to the modulator 606 under the switching-control by theformatter 608 (step S42), and is recorded onto the optical disc 100(step S43).

Along with these operations, using the program construction informationand the ES_PID information included in the reception information D3imported upon receiving and stored in the memory 530, the filesystem/logical structure data generator 521 prepares the logicalinformation file data D4 (step S24 and step S25). Then, after thecompletion of recording a series of the TS object data D1, this logicalinformation file data D4 is additionally recorded onto the optical disc100 (step S46 and step S47). Incidentally, these steps S24 and S25 maybe performed after the step S43.

Moreover, as the occasion demands (e.g. in the case of editing oneportion of the title, or the like), by adding the user input I2 of thetitle information and the like from the user interface 720 to theprogram construction information and the ES_PID information stored inthe memory 530, it is possible to prepare the logical information filedata D4 by the system controller 520 and additionally record this ontothe optical disc 100.

As described above, the information record reproduction apparatus 500performs the record processing in the case of receiving the transportstream on air and recording it in real time.

Incidentally, if all the reception data obtained when broadcasting isonce stored into an archive apparatus, and then, if this is used as theobject source 700, the same processing as that in “the case of using thealready prepared object” will do.

(i-3) The Case of Recording the Video Data, the Audio Data and theSub-Picture Data

This case is explained with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 17.Incidentally, in FIG. 17, the same steps as those in FIG. 15 have thesame step reference numbers, and their explanation is omitted asoccasion demands.

In the case of recording the video data, the audio data, and thesub-picture data, which are individually prepared in advance, the videodata source 711, the audio data source 712, and the sub-picture datasource 713 are individually provided with the memory storage, such as avideo tape and a memory, and store a video data DV, an audio data DA,and a sub-picture data DS, respectively.

These data sources are controlled by the control signal Sc8 giving aninstruction for reading out the data from the system controller 520, andthey transmit the video data DV, the audio data DA, and the sub-picturedata DS, to the video encoder 611, the audio encoder 612, and thesub-picture encoder 613, respectively (step S61). Then, the videoencoder 611, the audio encoder 612, and the sub-picture encoder 613execute a predetermined type of encode processing (step S62).

The TS object generator 610 is controlled by a control signal Sc6 fromthe system controller 520 and converts the data encoded in this mannerto the TS object data constituting the transport stream (step S63). Inthis case, the data array information of each TS object data (e.g. arecord data length and the like) and the construction information ofeach elementary stream (e.g. the ES_PID, as described later, and thelike) are transmitted as information I6 from the TS object generator 610to the system controller 520 and are stored into the memory 530 (stepS66).

On the other hand, the TS object data generated by the TS objectgenerator 610 is transmitted to the {circle around (2)} side of theswitch Sw1 of the formatter 608. Namely, when formatting the TS objectdata from the TS object generator 610, the formatter 608 isswitching-controlled by the switch control signal Sc5 from the systemcontroller 520 to shift the switch Sw1 to the {circle around (2)} sideand the switch Sw2 to the {circle around (1)} side, thereby outputtingthe TS object data (step S64). Then, this TS object data is recordedonto the optical disc 100 through the modulator 606 (step S65).

Along with these operations, using the data array information of each TSobject data and the construction information of each elementary streamimported as the information I6 into the memory 530, the filesystem/logical structure data generator 521 prepares the logicalinformation file data D4 (step S24 and step S25). Then, after thecompletion of recording a series of the TS object data D2, the logicalinformation file data D4 is additionally recorded onto the optical disc100 (step S67 and step S68). Incidentally, the step S24 and the step S25may be processed after the step S65.

Moreover, as the occasion demands (e.g. in the case of editing oneportion of the title), by adding the user input I2 such as the titleinformation and the like from the user interface 720 to theseinformation stored in the memory 530, it is possible to prepare thelogical information file data D4 by the file system/logical structuregenerator 521 and additionally record this onto the optical disc 100.

As described above, the information record reproduction apparatus 500performs the record processing in the case of recording the video data,the audio data, and the sub-picture data, which are individuallyprepared in advance.

Incidentally, this record processing is applicable even when recordingan arbitrary content the user has.

(i-4) The Case of Recording the Data by Authoring

This case is explained with reference to FIG. 14 and FIG. 18.Incidentally, in FIG. 18, the same steps as those in FIG. 15 have thesame step reference numbers, and their explanation is omitted asoccasion demands.

In this case, by combining the above described three types of recordprocessing in the three cases, an authoring system generates the TSobject, the logical information file data, and the like in advance (stepS81), and then completes the processing until switching-controlperformed at the formatter 608 (step S82). Then, the informationobtained by this operation is transmitted, as the disc image data D5, tothe modulator 606 equipped in front of and/or behind an original disccutting machine (step S83), and this cutting machine prepares theoriginal disc (step S84).

(ii) Structure and Operation in Reproduction System

Next, the specific structure and operation of each constitutionalelement constituting the reproduction system of the information recordreproduction apparatus 500 is explained with reference to FIG. 14 andFIG. 19.

In FIG. 14, via the user interface 720, the title to be reproduced fromthe optical disc 100, its reproduction condition and the like areinputted to the system controller 520, as the user input I2 such as thetitle information and the like. In this case, under control of thecontrol signal Sc4 from the system controller 520, the input processingsuitable for the content to be reproduced, such as a selection on atitle menu screen, can be achieved by the user interface 720.

Responding to this, the system controller 520 controls the discreproduction with respect to the optical disc 100, and the opticalpickup 502 transmits a reading signal S7 to the demodulator 506.

The demodulator 506 demodulates a recorded signal recorded onto theoptical disc 100 from this reading signal S7, and outputs it asdemodulated data D8. The logical information file data (i.e. the filesystem 105, the disc information file 110, the P list information file120, and the object information file 130, shown in FIG. 3) included inthis demodulated data D8 as being a not-multiplexed information part issupplied to the system controller 520. On the basis of this logicalinformation file data, the system controller 520 executes variousreproduction control, such as processing of determining a reproductionaddress and controlling the optical pickup 502.

On the other hand, depending on whether the TS object data is includedas the multiplexed information part in the demodulated data D8, orwhether the still picture data is included, or whether both data areincluded, the shift switch Sw3 is shifted to {circle around (1)} side(demultiplexer 508 side) or shifted to {circle around (2)} side (stilldecoder 515 side), under control of the control signal Sc10 from thesystem controller 520. Thereby, the TS object data is selectivelysupplied to the demultiplexer 508, and the still picture data isselectively supplied to the still picture decoder 515.

Then, as for the TS object data included as the multiplexed informationpart in the demodulated data D8, the demultiplexer 508 demultiplexes theTS object data, under control of the control signal Sc2 from the systemcontroller 520. Here, when the access to the reproduction positionaddress is terminated under the reproduction control by the systemcontroller 520, the control signal Sc2 is transmitted to start thedemultiplexing.

The video packet, the audio packet and the sub-picture packet aretransmitted respectively from the demultiplexer 508 and suppliedrespectively to the video decoder 511, the audio decoder 512 and thesub-picture decoder 513. Then, the video data DV, the audio data DA andthe sub-picture data DS are decoded, respectively. In this case, thesub-picture data DS is supplied to the adder 514 via the memory 540. Thesub-picture data DS is outputted from the memory 540, selectively or ata predetermined timing, under control of the control signal Sc5 from thesystem controller 520, so as to be super-imposed on the video data DV,if needed. That is, in comparison with a case that the sub-picture dataoutputted from the sub-picture decoder 513 is directly super-imposed, itis easy to control the timing of the super-imposing, or to judge theneed for the super-imposing. For example, under output control of thecontrol signal Sc5, it is possible to select whether or not a captionusing the sub-picture is displayed over the main picture, or whether ornot a menu screen using the sub-picture is displayed.

Incidentally, although the packets obtained by packetizing the PAT orthe PMT, included in the transport stream shown in FIG. 6, are includedas a part of the demodulated data D8, respectively, they are discardedor abandoned at the demultiplexer 508.

The adder 514 is controlled by a control signal Sc3 giving aninstruction of the mixing from the system controller 520, and mixes orsuperimposes in a predetermined timing the video data DV and thesub-picture data DS, which are respectively decoded at the video decoder511 and the sub-picture decoder 513. The result is outputted as a videooutput from the information record reproduction apparatus 500 to a TVmonitor, for example.

On the other hand, the audio data DA decoded at the audio decoder 512 isoutputted as an audio output from the information record reproductionapparatus 500 to an external speaker, for example.

In the case that the still picture data is included in the decoded dataD8, the still picture data is supplied to the still picture decoder 515,via the shift switch Sw3 controlled by the control signal Sc10 from thesystem controller 520, instead of or in addition to such a reproductionoperation or processing of the video data DV or the sub-picture data DS.Then, the still picture data such as the decoded bit map data, JPEG dataand the like is added to the adder 514 via the shift switch Sw4, withoutsubjected to any processing, under control of the control signal Sc11from the system controller 520. Alternatively, it may be temporarilystored in the memory 550 via the shift switch Sw4. The still picturedata is outputted from the memory 550, selectively or at a predeterminedtiming, under control of the control signal Sc12 from the systemcontroller 520, and then supplied to the adder 514 via the shift switchSw5. Thereby, if needed, the video data DV or the sub-picture data DS issuper-imposed over the still picture data or vice versa. That is, incomparison with a case that the still picture data outputted from thestill picture decoder 515 is directly super-imposed, it is easy tocontrol the timing of the super-imposing, or to judge the need for thesuper-imposing. For example, under output control of the control signalSc12, it is possible to select whether or not a still picture such as amenu screen or a window screen using the still picture data or a stillpicture as a background image using the still picture data is displayedon the main picture of the sub-picture.

Additionally, under control of the control signal Sc13 from the systemcontroller 520, the still picture data may be outputted via anotherroute (not shown), with the aid of the shift switch Sw5 shifted to{circle around (2)} side. Alternatively, no still picture data may beoutputted from the shift switch Sw5 shifted to {circle around (2)} side.

Here, the specific example of a reproduction processing routine by thesystem controller 520 is explained with reference to a flow chart ofFIG. 19.

In FIG. 19, it is assumed that as an initial condition, the recognitionof the optical disc 100 in the reproduction system and the recognitionof a volume structure and a file structure by the file system 105 (seeFIG. 3) have been already completed by the system controller 520 and thefile system/logical structure data reader 522 inside of the systemcontroller 520. Here, an explanation is made on the operational flowafter obtaining the total number of the total titles from the discgeneral information 112 in the disc information file 110 and thenchoosing or selecting one title from among them.

Firstly, the choice or selection of the title is performed via the userinterface 720 (step S211). Responding to this, the system controller 520obtains the information about the reproduction sequence from a readingresult of the file system/logical structure data reader 522.Incidentally, in the selection of the title 200, the desired titleelement(s) 200-2 (see FIG. 4) may be selected from among a whole titleelements 200-2 composing the title 200, with the aid of an externalinput operation by the user with using a remote controller and the like,or one title element 200-2 may be selected automatically depending on asystem parameter or the like adjusted for the information recordreproduction apparatus 500.

Then, contents of a plurality of play lists 126 composing a play listset 126S corresponding to the selected title 200 (title element 200-2)are obtained. Here, as a processing at a logic hierarchy, theinformation about the each play list 126 structure and each itemcomposing each play list (see FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 13) is obtained(step S212).

Then, contents of the play list 126 to be reproduced is obtained fromamong a plurality of play lists 126 obtained at step S212. For example,herein, the reproduction is started from a play list #1, and thecontents of the corresponding play list 126 is obtained (step S213). Thecontents of the play list 126 may be one or more play list elements126-2 (see FIG. 5), which are obtained by the obtaining processing atstep S213.

Then, the pre-command 126PR (see FIG. 5) included in this play list 126is executed (step S214). Incidentally, it is possible for thepre-command 126PR to select one from among a plurality of play lists126, which composes the play list set 126S with a certain relationshipof the plurality of play lists 126. If the play list element 126-2composing the play list 126 does not have the pre-command 126PR, thisprocessing is omitted.

Then, the TS object 142 (see FIG. 3 and FIG. 10) to be reproduced isdetermined (step S215), on the basis of the item 204 (see FIG. 5 to FIG.7) identified by the play list 126 obtained at step S213. Morespecifically, on the basis of the item 204, the object information file130 (see FIG. 3) relating to the TS object 142 as the reproductiontarget is obtained and a stream number, address and the like of the TSobject 142 to be reproduced are identified.

Incidentally, in this embodiment, also the belowmentioned AU(Association Unit) information 132I and PU (Presentation Unit)information 302I are obtained as the information stored in the objectinformation file 130. On the basis of these informations, theaforementioned logic hierarchy is associated with the object hierarchy(see FIG. 13).

Then, the reproduction of the TS object 142 determined at step S215 isactually started. That is, on the basis of the processing at the logichierarchy, the processing at the object hierarchy is started (stepS216).

During the reproduction of the TS object 142, it is judged whether ornot the next item 204 composing the play list 126 to be reproducedexists (step S217). Then, insofar as the next item 204 exists (stepS217: Yes), the process goes back to the step S215 to repeat theaforementioned determination and the reproduction of the TS object 142.

On the other hand, at the judgement at step S217, if it is judged thatthe next item 204 does not exist (step S217: No), the post command 126PS(see FIG. 5) corresponding to the presently executed play list 126 isexecuted (step S218). Incidentally, if the play list element 126-2composing the play list 126 does not have the post command 126PS, thisprocessing is omitted.

Then, it is judged whether or not the next play list 126 composing theselected title 200 exists (step S219). If exists (step S219: Yes), theprocess goes back to the step S213 to repeat the processings followingobtaining the play list 126 to be reproduced.

On the other hand, at the judgement at step S219, if it is judged thatthe next play list 126 does not exist (step S219: No), i.e. if the allplay lists 126 to be reproduced corresponding to the title 200 selectedat step S211 are completely reproduced, a series of reproductionoperations or processings is terminated.

As discussed above, the information record reproduction apparatus 500 inthis embodiment reproduces the optical disc 100.

Particularly in this embodiment, (i) with regard to the structure andoperation of the record system mentioned above, for example in the caseof a DVD-ROM application (i.e. in the case of (i-4)), the contentinformation composing a plurality of blocks, such as a plurality ofparental blocks or angle blocks is recorded as the transport streams andthe like. On the other hand, for example in the case of a DVD recorderapplication (i.e. in the case of (i-2)), the content informationcomposing a plurality of programs streamed into the same transfer waveor the same transfer signal is recorded as the transport stream or thelike. Alternatively, a plurality of various content informations aboutthe same title, which are prepared for each function demand such as avideo reproduction function demand (video performance) or an audioreproduction function demand (audio performance) required for theinformation reproduction system, are recorded as the transport streamsor the like, such as a pair of the high-vision compatible contentinformation and the normal video compatible content information, a pairof the surround speaker compatible content information and the monauralcompatible content information. Then, in such a recording, it isrecorded logically as one title 200 from the start of the recording tothe end of the recording, and a plurality of play list sets 126S eachincluding a plurality of play lists 126 for the plurality of contentinformation are recorded.

Particularly in this embodiment, (ii) with regard to the structure andoperation of the reproduction system, in the processing of the logichierarchy from the step S211 to the step S214 of FIG. 19 and theprocessing of associating the logic hierarchy with the object hierarchyat the step S215, any one of a plurality of play lists 126 included ineach play list set 126S designated by the title 200 is selected, and thecontent information is reproduced in the reproduction sequence definedby the selected play list. For example, in the DVD recorder applicationor the DVD-ROM application, the desired content information can bereproduced as the title 200, by selecting the play list information,from among a plurality of play list informations included in each playlist set 126S recorded as one title, which corresponds to the desiredcontent information, such as a desired program, a desired parentalblock, a desired angle block, a version actually reproducible in eachinformation reproduction system in view of the functionality, a versioncapable of using fully or efficiently the functionality of eachinformation reproduction system.

(Selection of Play List)

Now, with reference to FIG. 20 to FIG. 35, an explanation is made onvarious specific examples of the information record reproductionapparatus 500 having the individual video reproduction function (videoperformance) and the individual audio reproduction function (audioperformance), as an example of the information reproduction systembelonging to the user, to select appropriately the play list 126corresponding to the content information which makes the best or gooduse of the function, from among the play list set 126S included in theplay list information file 120 reproduced by the aforementionedinformation record reproduction system 500. Furthermore in thisembodiment, the explanation is made on both cases, that is, a case thatthe user or the author of the contents declares a designation to put thepriority on the audio performance (hereinafter referred to as “audiopriority” as appropriate), and a case that the user or the authordeclares a designation to put the priority on the video performance(hereinafter referred to as “video priority” as appropriate).Furthermore, although the play list 126 in the play list set 126S isselected in this embodiment, one play list 126 may be selected from asimple bundle or collection of play lists 126 (i.e. the “play list set”according to the present invention in a broad sense), as a variation,even without taking a form of the play list set 126S.

Incidentally, the present invention is not limited to such a selection.Other ways of selection may be employed to substantially obtain the sameor similar advantages as or to this embodiment, insofar as the play list126 to be reproduced actually is selected, on the reproduction of theinformation record reproduction apparatus 500, with taking into accountat least somewhat of the “required performance information” according tothe present invention or the attribute information as an example thereofrecorded for each play list 126.

Firstly, with reference to FIG. 20 to FIG. 25, an explanation is made onvarious specific examples of the attribute information as an example ofthe “required performance information” according to the presentinvention, in particular focusing on the storage position thereof. FIG.20 schematically shows a data structure in the case that the attributeinformation is stored in the play list set. FIG. 21 schematically showsa data structure in the case that the attribute information is stored ineach play list. FIG. 22 schematically shows a data structure in avariation of the specific example of FIG. 22, in the case that thestructure of the play list set 126S is not employed. FIG. 23 is aconceptual view schematically showing a selection of the play list inthe variation of FIG. 22. FIG. 24 schematically shows a data structurein the case that the attribute information is stored in the play listselection information stored out of the play list or in the play list.FIG. 25 is a conceptual view schematically showing a selection of theplay list in the specific example of FIG. 24.

In the specific example of FIG. 20, the attribute information 126A-1 isstored in the play list 126S, in association with each play list 126.The “attribute information” means an information to indicate theattribution of the content information relating to the play list, forexample, with regard to the video performance, what extent of videoresolution is achieved, what extent of view angle is achievedrespectively for progressive/interleave, what extent of the refresh rateis achieved, what codec is employed, or whether it is compatible withthe hi-vision or normal vision. On the other hand, with regard to theaudio performance, it means an information to indicate the attribute ofthe content information relating to the play list indicating what thechannel assignment is employed, what codec is employed, what thesampling frequency is employed, what sample bit is employed, or whetherit is compatible with surround speakers or stereo or monaural. Theseattribute informations mean the reproduction performance required forthe information record reproduction apparatus 500 to reproduce thecorresponding content information. In this case, the attributioninformation is contemplated as an example of the required performanceinformation.

In the specific example of FIG. 21, the attribute information 126A-2 isstored in each play list 126 stored in the play list set 126S. Thecontents of the “attribute information” are the same as in the case ofthe specific example of FIG. 20.

The selecting operation or performance of play list employing thespecific examples shown in FIG. 20 and FIG. 21 is discussed later withreference to a flow chart.

In the variation of FIG. 22, there is no structure of the play list set126S, but there is a bundle or collection of a plurality of play lists126 including the attribution information 126A-3. That is, the pluralityof play lists 126 does not take the structure of the play list set 126Sshown in FIG. 3, but forms a play list set (i.e. a bundle or collectionof a plurality of play lists) according to the present invention in abroad sense. One play list selection information 126SD-1 is prepared inassociation with the plurality of play lists 126. Such play listselection information 126SD-1 may be stored in the title 200 or thetitle element 200-2, or may be stored in other fields or tables insofaras it can be associated with the play list 126.

The selecting operation or performance in the variation of FIG. 22 maybe performed as shown in FIG. 23.

That is, as shown in FIG. 23, a plurality of play lists 126 recorded onthe optical disc 100 is firstly narrowed down, in accordance with aselection condition defined by the play list selection information126SD-1, by comparing the attribution of each play list 126 with thereproduction performance of the information reproduction system.Furthermore, in accordance with the configuration table 800 constructed,as discussed later, in the information record reproduction apparatus500, the play list 126 is selected, which corresponds to the contentinformation capable of using fully or efficiently the reproductionperformance of the information record reproduction apparatus 500.

In the variation of FIG. 24, there is no structure of the play list set126S as in the case of FIG. 22, and the play list selection information126SD-2 stores a plurality of attribute information 126A-4 for each playlist. Such play list selection information 126SD-2 may be stored in thetitle 200 or the title element 200-2, or may be stored in other fieldsor tables insofar as it can be associated with the play list 126.

The selecting operation or performance of the play list 126 in thevariation of FIG. 24 may be performed as shown in FIG. 25.

That is, as shown in FIG. 25, a plurality of play lists 126 recorded onthe optical disc 100 are narrowed down, in accordance with the selectioncondition defined by the attribute information defined by the play listselection information 126SD-2, by comparing the attribution of each playlist 126 with the reproduction performance of the informationreproduction system. Furthermore, in accordance with the configurationtable 800 mentioned later in addition to the play list selectioninformation 126SD-2, the play list 126 is selected, which corresponds tothe content information capable of using fully or efficiently thereproduction performance of the information record reproductionapparatus 500. Particularly in this case, since the attributioninformation 126A-4 of the play list is stored in each play listselection information 126SD-2, a group of the candidate play lists 126is judged as for only a part to be a candidate on the basis of theselection information from among a group of all play lists 126.

Incidentally, in this variation, on the basis of the play list selectioninformation 126SD-2, both a primary narrow down of the play lists 126and a secondary selection of the play list 126 with the processing ofthe attribute information 126A-4 are performed. Also in this case, thestructure of the play list set 126S is not essential.

As discussed above, in this embodiment, since the attribute information126A1-126A4 are stored corresponding to the play list 126, it ispossible to select the play list 126 corresponding to the contentinformation reproducible by the information record reproductionapparatus 500, in view of the video performance or the audioperformance, from among a plurality of play lists 126.

Now an explanation is made on a fundamental processing of reproducingthe optimum content information in accordance with the video performanceand the audio performance of the information reproduction system (e.g.the aforementioned information record reproduction apparatus 500), withreference to FIG. 26 and FIG. 27. FIG. 26 is a conceptual viewschematically showing a fundamental theory about a selection of theoptimum content information for the information reproduction system.FIG. 27 is a conceptual view showing a problem which may be occurred insuch a fundamental selection.

As shown in FIG. 26, a play list matrix 801 is assumed which islogically configured in which columns from left to right arerepresentative of predetermined ranks from low performance to highperformance with regard to the video performance required by eachcontent information whose reproduction sequence is designated by aplurality of play lists in the play list set, and rows from top tobottom are representative of predetermined ranks from low performance tohigh performance with regard to the audio performance required by eachcontent information. On the other hand, a player matrix 802 is assumedwhich is logically configured in which columns from left to right arerepresentative of predetermined ranks from low performance to highperformance with regard to the video performance of each informationreproduction system, and rows from top to bottom are representative ofpredetermined ranks from low performance to high performance with regardto the audio performance of each information reproduction system.

In this case, a play list number #1, #2, . . . , designating the contentinformation requiring the video performance and the audio performancedefined by each cell for the reproduction is assigned to each cell ofthe play list matrix 801. On the other hand, in the player matrix 802,cells corresponding to the video performance and the audio performanceof the information reproduction system is assumed as a “reproduciblerange (gray zone in the figure)”. On the contrary, cells correspondingto the video performance or the audio performance that the informationreproduction system does not have is assumed as “not reproducible”.

Therefore, by comparing with each other these logically configured twomatrixes, i.e., the play list matrix 801 and the player matrix 802, oneplay list (play list #3 in this example), which positions toward thehighest function side (i.e. lower right side) of each matrix, isselected as a play list to designate the content information capable ofusing fully the function of the information reproduction system.

As shown in FIG. 27, however, in the case that a comparison is madebetween the play list matrix 801 and the player matrix 802, it may notbe judged which cell positions at the highest function side. That is, inthe case that there are (i) a play list (play list #4 in this example)assigned with a cell positioned at highest function side with regard tothe audio performance but at slightly lower function side with regard tothe video performance, and (ii) a play list (play list #3 in thisexample) assigned with a cell positioned at a slightly lower functionside with regard to the audio performance but at the highest functionside with regard to the video performance, reproducing either of themresults in bringing both merits and demerits, and thereby any of themcannot be simply selected as the optimum play list.

Now, an explanation is made on the selection of the play list accordingto the play list addressable to such a problem, with reference to FIG.28 to FIG. 33. FIG. 28 schematically shows a processing of selecting theplay list, on the basis of the configuration table and the attributeinformation in this embodiment. FIG. 29 schematically shows a selectionof the play list differently for the video priority and for the audiopriority. FIG. 30 is a flow chart showing an operational flow of theselection in the video priority. FIG. 31 is a conceptual viewschematically showing it. FIG. 32 is a flow chart showing an operationalflow of the selection in the audio priority. FIG. 33 schematically showsa generation of the configuration table differently for the videopriority and for the audio priority.

That is, particularly in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 28, the playlist table (see the right side of FIG. 28) in which the attributeinformation 126A (126A-1, 126A-2, 126A-3 or 126A-4) is arranged for eachplay list (i.e. for each play list #) discussed with reference to FIG.20 to FIG. 25 is used. Furthermore, the configuration table 800 (see theleft side of FIG. 28) is generated prior to the selection at theinformation reproduction system side. Furthermore, a plurality of suchconfiguration tables 800 are prepared, depending on which reproductionperformance the priority is given to, for example, depending on whetherthe priority is given to the video performance, or whether the priorityis given to the audio performance. Then, the optimum play list isselected by making a comparison between the attribute information 126Ain the play list table and any of the plurality of configuration tables800. In this selection, different from the case discussed relating toFIG. 26 and FIG. 27, the comparison can be made in one dimensionalmanner. For this, a play list conflict (see FIG. 27) does not occur, andthereby one play list (e.g., the play list #3 encapsulated by a brokenframe in this example) can be selected.

Furthermore in this case, as shown in FIG. 29, the audio priorityconfiguration table 800-A (configuration table #n in the right side) andthe video priority configuration table 800-V (configuration table #m inthe left side) may be generated by weighting the content informationdepending on its type, such as the video information or the audioinformation, in the information reproduction system. In this case, it ispossible to select different play lists depending on whether the authorsintention is the audio priority or the video priority, even in the casethat the same play list set is reproduced by the same informationreproduction system. In this example, if it is the audio priority, theplay list #3 having the relatively high audio performance is selected.On the other hand, if it is the video priority, the play list #4 havingthe relatively high video performance is selected.

Incidentally, in the embodiment, in the case that the play list isselected automatically depending on the attribute information in theplay list set, each reproduction attribution of video/audio ispreferably unified in the play list. Thereby, the appropriate selectionis achieved.

Now, an explanation is made on the selection of the play list in thevideo priority, with reference to FIG. 30 and FIG. 31.

In FIG. 30 and FIG. 31, if it is the video priority, a plurality of playlists are firstly grouped for each attribute (i.e. video attribute) ofthe video information (step S201 in FIG. 30). Thereby, a plurality ofplay lists 126 in the play list set 126S are re-arranged as shown fromthe upper left to the upper right of FIG. 31.

Then, the groups are re-arranged depending on their video attribute fromthe higher priority video information (step S202 in FIG. 30), which istypically from the higher performance to the lower performance about thevideo performance. Thereby, a plurality of play lists in the play listset are re-arranged as shown from the upper right part to the lowerright part of FIG. 31. In this example, they are re-arranged dependingon the video resolution in the order from 720p, 1080i, 480p and 480i.

Then, the play lists are re-arranged depending on their audio attributefrom the higher priority audio information (step S203), which istypically from the higher performance to the lower performance about theaudio performance. Thereby, a plurality of play lists in the play listset are re-arranged as shown from the lower right part to the lower leftpart of FIG. 31. In this example, they are re-arranged depending ontheir audio channel number in the order from 7.1ch, 5.1ch, 1ch and 2ch.

Thus, the generation of the configuration table 800-V (see FIG. 29) inthe case of the video priority is terminated.

On the other hand, an explanation is made on a selection of the playlist in the audio priority, with reference to FIG. 32.

In FIG. 32, a plurality of play lists are firstly grouped depending ontheir audio attributes about the audio information (step S211). Then,the groups are re-arranged depending on their attributes from the higherpriority audio information (step S212), which is typically from thehigher performance to the lower performance about the audio performance.Then, in each group, the play lists are re-arranged depending on theirattributes from the higher priority audio information (step S213), whichis typically from the higher performance to the lower performance aboutthe video performance.

Thus, the generation of the configuration table 800-A (see FIG. 29) inthe case of the audio priority is terminated.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 33, it is possible, for example, to selectthe play list of the video priority (play list #3 in this example)uniquely and appropriately, for the configuration table 800-V (the lowerleft part of FIG. 33) of the video priority, which is a one-dimensionalarrangement generated as shown in FIG. 30 and FIG. 31. On the contrary,even in the case that the same content information is reproduced in thesame information reproduction system, it is possible to select the playlist of the audio priority (play list #1 in this example) uniquely andappropriately, in accordance with the configuration table 800-A (thelower right part of FIG. 33) of the audio priority, which is aone-dimensional arrangement generated as shown in FIG. 32.

Incidentally, it is preferable to record a parameter, so-called a“presentation type”, in the play list set, to identify whether it is thevideo priority or the audio priority, to which the priority is givenupon generating the configuration table 800, or to which the priority isgiven upon reproducing the content information. For example, theparameter of such a “presentation type” may be any of variousparameters, such as a “video type” to put the priority on the screenresolution, an “audio type” to put the priority on the channel number, a“still picture type” to put the priority on the progressive, and a“movie native type” to put the priority on the refresh rate 24 Hz. Aplurality of configuration tables 800 different from each other aregenerated corresponding to each parameter, at least as many as a varietyof parameters different from each other. Furthermore, in the case that aplurality of video streams are combined and reproduced at the same time,a further plurality of configuration tables 800 are to be generated foreach combination of these parameters.

Now, an explanation is made on a reproduction of one play list set, as apart of the title reproduction, including the selection of the play listwith the aid of the configuration table 800 as mentioned above, withreference to FIG. 34 and FIG. 35. FIG. 34 is a flow chart showing areproduction of said one play list. FIG. 35 is a flow chart relating toa generation of the configuration table in the flow chart of FIG. 34.

As shown in FIG. 34, a title is firstly selected (step S221), and theplay list set corresponding to the selected title is read (step S222).Then, the configuration table 800 is generated, and thereby one playlist is selected from the play list set (step S223).

That is, as shown in FIG. 35, in the processing at step S223, morespecifically, the generation of the configuration table 800 as shown inFIG. 28 to FIG. 33 is performed (step S231), on the basis of theattribute information (see FIG. 2 to FIG. 25) of each play list storedin the play list set or the like and the “presentation type” which is aparameter stored in the play list set or the like as mentioned above,such as the video type or the audio type. In this case, for example, thegeneration of the configuration table 800-V of the video priority or theconfiguration table 800-A of the audio priority is performed. On theother hand, a reproducible parameter is read, which is an example of the“set function information” in the information reproduction system. Then,a comparison or verification between the reproducible parameter and theconfiguration table 800 is performed, so that the play list capable ofusing efficiently the function of the information reproduction systemand the most matched to the intention of the contents author, i.e. theoptimum play list, is selected (step S235).

Then, again in FIG. 34, the reproduction using the play list selected assuch is performed, and a series of reproduction processings isterminated.

Incidentally, particularly in this embodiment, the reproducibleparameter as an example of the “set function information” according tothe present invention is set as a system parameter, in the built-inmemory in the system controller 520, or in the memory 530 connected tothe system controller 520, for the information record reproductionapparatus 500 already discussed with reference to FIG. 14, which is anexample of the information reproduction system. Such a reproducibleparameter may be set automatically by the system controller 520 througha plug-in processing, or may be set by default from the start of thesystem construction. Alternatively, the user who is familiar to theactual system may set the reproducible parameter through the controlpanel or the remote controller.

Thus, in this embodiment, one play list is selected from a plurality ofplay lists, while taking into account the video performance or the audioperformance in the information reproduction system such as theinformation record reproduction apparatus 500, and taking into accountthe video performance or the audio performance required by theselectable content information. As a result, the content informationreproducible in the information reproduction system is appropriatelyreproduced. For example, even in the case that the same title recordedin the optical disc 100 is reproduced, if it is reproduced by theinformation reproduction system including a high vision television, itis possible to select automatically the play list information to definethe reproduction sequence of the content information compatible with thehigh vision, from the play list set. Thereby, the content informationcompatible with the high vision is reproduced automatically. On theother hand, if it is reproduced by the information reproduction systemincluding no high vision television, the play list information to definethe reproduction sequence of the content information compatible with thenormal different from the high vision may be selected automatically fromthe play list set. Thereby, the content information compatible with thenormal is reproduced automatically. Furthermore, if the information toindicate whether it is the video priority or the audio priority isrecorded as the “presentation type” onto the optical disc 100, thereproduction processing can be achieved in accordance with the intentionof the contents author.

As discussed in detail with reference to FIG. 20 to FIG. 35, in thisembodiment, the information matched to the reproduction performance ofthe information reproduction system of the user can be reproduced, fromamong the content information such as the video information, the audioinformation recorded onto the optical disc 100.

(Access Flow on Reproduction)

Next, with reference to FIG. 36, the access flow on reproduction by theinformation record reproduction apparatus 500, employing the AUinformation 132 and the PU information 302, is explained as one of thefeatures of this embodiment, with the logical structure of the opticaldisc 100. FIG. 36 schematically illustrates an entire access flow onreproduction, in relation to the logical structure of the optical disc100.

In FIG. 36, the logical structure of the optical disc 100 is categorizedroughly into the following three hierarchies: a logic hierarchy 401; anobject hierarchy 403; and a logic-object association hierarchy 402mutually associating those two hierarchies.

Among them, the logic hierarchy 401 is a hierarchy for logicallyspecifying various logical information to reproduce the desired titleduring the reproduction, as well as the play list (P list) to bereproduced and its constitutional contents. In the logic hierarchy 401,disc information 110 d indicating the entire titles 200 and the like onthe optical disc 100 is written within the disc information file 110(see FIG. 3), and further, reproduction sequence information 120 d ofthe entire contents on the optical disc 100 is written within the playlist information file 120 (see FIG. 3). More specifically, theconstruction of one or more play list sets 126S is written, as thereproduction sequence information 120 d, respectively for one or moretitle elements 200-2 included in each title 200. Furthermore, each playlist set 126S includes one or more play lists 126, in each of which theconstruction of one or more items 204 (see FIG. 13) is written. Then, atthe time of the access during the reproduction, the logic hierarchy 401as described above specifies the title 200 to be reproduced, the playlist 126 corresponding to this, and further the item 204 correspondingto this.

Next, the logic-object association hierarchy 402 is a hierarchy forspecifying the attribute and the physical storage address of the TSobject data 140 d to be reproduced, so as to specify the combinationand/or the construction of the TS object data 140 d as the entity dataand perform an address conversion to the object hierarchy 403 from thelogic hierarchy 401, on the basis of the information specified in thelogic hierarchy 401 as described above. More specifically, in thelogic-object association hierarchy 402, the object information data 130d, which separates a group of the contents composing each item 204 intounits of the AU 132 and which finely separates each AU 132 into units ofthe PU 302, is written in the object information file 130 (see FIG. 3).

Here, the “PU (Presentation Unit) 302” is a unit associating and unitinga plurality of elementary streams by the reproduction switchable unit.If there are three audio streams in the PU 302, the user can freelyswitch these three audio (e.g. audio for each language), during thereproduction of this vision.

On the other hand, the “AU (Associate Unit) 132” is a unit uniting aplurality of elementary streams such as video streams in the TS objectused in one title, and made of one or more PUs 302. More specifically,it is a unit uniting the elementary stream packet IDs (ES_PID) for eachTS object, indirectly via the PU 302. This AU 132 corresponds to anassembly made of a plurality of programs having a specificinter-relationship in view of the contents, such as a plurality ofprograms switchable to each other in the multi-source broadcasting. ThePUs 302 belonged to the same AU 132 corresponds to one or moreelementary stream assemblies each constructing a plurality of programsswitchable to each other by the user operation during the reproduction.

Therefore, if the AU 132 to be reproduced is identified, and the PUsbelonged to the AU are identified, the elementary stream to bereproduced is identified. That is, a desired elementary stream can bereproduced from the multi-recorded optical disc 100, without using thePAT or the PMT shown in FIG. 12.

Incidentally, a further specific data structure of the AU information132I and the PU information 302I, each defining the AU 132 and the PU302, is discussed later in detail.

The elementary stream to be actually reproduced herein is identified ordesignated by the ES_PID that is a packet ID (see FIG. 12) of theelementary stream, on the basis of the PU information 302. At the sametime, the information indicating the start time point and the end timepoint of the reproduction is converted to the elementary stream addressinformation, and thereby the contents in a specific area (or a specifictime range) of a specific elementary stream is reproduced.

Thus, in the logic-object association hierarchy 402, an addressconversion is performed from a logical address relating to each item 204to a physical address relating to each PU 302.

Next, the object hierarchy 403 is a physical hierarchy to reproduce theactual TS object data 140 d. In the object hierarchy 403, the TS objectdata 140 d is written within the object data file 140 (see FIG. 3). Morespecifically, TS packets 146 constructing a plurality of elementarystreams (ES) are multiplexed at every time point. The multiplexedpackets are disposed on the time scale to form a plurality of elementarystreams (see FIG. 11). Then, a plurality of TS packets multiplexed ateach time point is associated with a PU 302 identified by thelogic-object association hierarchy 402, for each elementary stream.Incidentally, it is possible to associate a plurality of PUs 302 withone elementary stream (e.g. one elementary stream relating to the sameaudio data is shared, or one elementary stream relating to the samesub-picture data is shared, among a plurality of switchable programs).

Thus, in the object hierarchy 403, the object data is actuallyreproduced, using the physical address obtained from the conversion inthe logic-object association hierarchy 402.

As described above, the three hierarchies shown in FIG. 36 allow makingan access to the optical disc 100 during the reproduction.

(Structure of Each Information File)

Now, an explanation is made on a specific example of a data structure ofvarious information files constructed on the optical disc 100 in thisembodiment, i.e. the data structure of (1) the play list informationfile 120 and the disc information file 110 discussed with reference toFIG. 3, and (2) the object information file 130, with reference to FIG.37 to FIG. 44.

(1) Disc Information File and Play List Information File

With reference to FIG. 37 to FIG. 43, an explanation is made on eachconstitutional element and a hierarchy structure therebetween orthereamong in specific examples of these files. FIG. 37 to FIG. 43 areconceptual diagrams, schematically showing the hierarchy structures ofthese files. Incidentally, in FIG. 37 to FIG. 43, the same file, data,information, and the like as those already explained with reference toFIG. 3 to FIG. 9 and the like carry the same reference numerals, and thedetailed explanations of them are omitted.

Firstly, as shown in FIG. 37, a “title information set” associated withthis specific example is an information set including the discinformation file 110 and the play list information file 120, shown inFIG. 3 and the like.

The title information set is provided with: one disc header 112 x; aplurality of title information 200 (title information #1, . . . , #n); aplurality of play list (P list) sets 126S (P list sets #1, . . . , #n);and other information.

(1-1) Disc Header:

Firstly, from among the title information set shown in FIG. 37, the discheader 112 x is explained with reference to FIG. 37 and FIG. 38.

In FIG. 37, the disc header 112 x is shown in a branched form on theupper right of the figure, and has a plurality of fields for variousinformation, such as a version number, the title total number, the titleinformation total number, and the play list (P list) set total number,in order from the top in FIG. 30, as information corresponding to thedisc general information 112 shown in FIG. 3. The disc header 112 x has:a title start address table, as a table for information corresponding tothe title pointer 114-1 shown in FIG. 3; and a play list (P list) setstart address table, as a table for information corresponding to theplay list set pointer 124 shown in FIG. 3. The disc header 112 x has afield for information which indicates a title set attribute forindicating the attribute of each title set. Moreover, the disc head 112x has a title table 112 xtt and a play list set table 112 xpt.

As described above, the disc header 112 x having the plurality of fieldsand tables is to collectively manage a plurality of titles of the entirerecording area on the disc.

Here, the “version number” is a version number in the standard, andaccording to ISO 646, it is regarded as a code “0070”, for example. The“title total number” is the total number of the titles of the entirerecording area on the disc, and the “title information total number” isthe total number of the title information of the entire recording areaon the disc. The “play list set total number” is the total number of theplay list sets of the entire recording area on the disc, and the “titlestart address table” indicates the start address of each title, as arelative byte number from the head of the title set. This byte number iscounted from zero, for example. The “play list set start address table”indicates the start address of each play list set, as a relative bytenumber from the head of the title set. This byte number is counted fromzero, for example. The “title set attribute” indicates the attribute ofthe title set, such as the data length of the title set, the type oflanguage used in the title set (Japanese, English, etc.), and the nameof the title set.

In FIG. 38, the title table 112 xtt is shown in a branched form on theupper right of the figure, and has a plurality of fields for recording aplurality of title menu start address information #1, . . . , #n, and aplurality of title content start address information #1, . . . , #n, insuch a form that they make pairs for each number, in order from the topof the figure.

Here, the “title menu start address” indicates the start address of thetitle information including each title menu, as a relative byte numberfrom the head of the title set. This byte number is counted from zero,for example. The title menu start address “0” is assigned to the discmenu about the entire disc. The “title contents start address” indicatesthe start address of the title information including each contentstitle, as a relative byte number from the head of the title set. Here,the “contents title” is a title for indicating the contents of eachtitle. This byte number is counted from zero, for example. The titlecontents start address “0” is assigned to a first play title which isunconditionally reproduced at the initial stage of the titlereproduction, for example.

In FIG. 38, the play list set table 112 xpt is shown in a branched formon the lower right of the figure, and has a plurality of fields forrecording a plurality of play list (P list) set start addresses #1, . .. , #m.

Here, the “play list set start address” indicates the start address ofeach play list set, as a relative byte number from the head of the titleset. This byte number is counted from zero, for example.

(1-2) Title Information:

Next, from among the title information set shown in FIG. 37, the titleinformation 200 is explained with reference to FIG. 37 and FIG. 39.

In FIG. 37, the title information 200 is shown in a branched form on thecenter right of the figure, and has a field for recording information200-1 x which indicates the total number of the title elementscorresponding to the title general information 200-1 shown in FIG. 4,and further, a plurality of fields for recording the plurality of titleelements 200-2 (title elements #1, . . . , #k) and the other information200-5, in order from the top in FIG. 30.

Here, the “title element total number” indicates the total number of thetitle elements included in the title information.

In FIG. 39, each title element 200-2 is shown in a branched form on theright of the figure, and has a plurality of fields for recording thepointer 200PT in which a “play list set number” is written, thecandidate total number, and P list identification information 200PN inwhich one or more available play list (P list) numbers (i.e. P lists #1,. . . , #k) is written, in order from the top in FIG. 32. Moreover, ithas a plurality of fields for recording the P list pre-command 200PR,the P list post command 200PS, the next information 200-6N and the likefor indicating the title element to be reproduced next. Incidentally,the other information in the title element 200-2 is information abouteach title element, such as the title type, for example, a sequentialtype and a branch type or the like.

Here, the “pointer 200PT in which the play list set number is written”is a pointer for indicating the identification (ID) number of the playlist set. The “candidate total number” indicates the total number of theplay list which can be a selection candidate of the title element in theplay list set specified by the pointer 200PT. The “P list identificationinformation 200PN” indicates the ID (identification) number of one ormore play lists which can be the selection candidate. By providing suchP list identification information 200PN, it is possible to include theplay list which can be the selection candidate for the reproduction ofdifferent titles, in one play list set, and it is possible to share theone play list set with different title elements. On the other hand, the“P list pre-command 200PR”, the “P list post command 200PS”, and the“next information 200-6N”, and the like are the same as described above.

(1-3) Play List Set:

Next, from among the title information set shown in FIG. 37, the playlist set 126S is explained with reference to FIG. 37 and FIG. 40 to FIG.43.

In FIG. 37, the play list set 126S is shown in a branched form on thelower right of the figure, and has fields for recording information126-1 which includes the play list (P list) total number and a pluralityof play list (PL) presentations (PL presentations #1, . . . , #i), asinformation corresponding to the play list set general information 126-1shown in FIG. 5, in order from the top in FIG. 30. Moreover, the playlist set 126S has a plurality of fields for recording the plurality ofplay lists (P lists) 126 (i.e. P lists #1, . . . , #i), the itemdefinition table 126-3, and the other information 126-4.

Here, the “play list total number” indicates the total number of theplay lists in the play list set. The PL presentations #1, . . . , #i areattribute information corresponding to the P lists #1, . . . , #i,respectively, and correspond to the attribute information shown in FIG.20.

As shown in FIG. 40, each PL presentation 126-1 xi is shown in abranched form on the upper right of the figure, and has a plurality offields for recording information which indicates a video codec, videoresolution, a video aspect ratio, a video frame rate, an audio channelassignment and so on, in order from the top in FIG. 40.

Here, the “video codec” is used in recording the video informationassociated with the play list set, and thus indicates the type of thevideo codec to be used in reproducing it. The “video resolution”indicates video resolution used in recording the video informationassociated with the play list corresponding to the main pass (i.e. thevideo stream for providing the video) from among the play list set. The“video aspect ratio” indicates a video aspect ratio used in recordingthe video information associated with the play list corresponding to themain pass from among the play list set. The “video frame rate” indicatesa video frame rate used in recording the video information associatedwith the play list corresponding to the main pass from among the playlist set. The “audio channel assignment” indicates the assignment of anaudio channel used in recording the audio information associated withthe play list corresponding to the main pass from among the play listset.

In FIG. 40, each play list 126 is shown in a branched form on the centerright of the figure, and has a plurality of fields for recordinginformation which indicates the data length of the play list 126, a playlist header, the plurality of play list elements 126-2 (i.e. P listelements #1, . . . , #i) and the like, in order from the top in FIG. 40.

Here, the “length” of the play list indicates the length of the playlist continuing to the next, with the byte number. This indicates thelength of the data which does not include the field itself. The “playlist header” indicates information about the total number of the playlist elements included in the play list, the reproduction time length ofthe play list, the name of the play list, and the like.

Moreover, in FIG. 41, each play list element 126-2 is shown in abranched form on the right of the figure, and has a plurality of fieldsfor recording the pointer 126PT which indicates the item number of amaster play item (master P item), the sub pass total number, a pluralityof sub pass information 126-2sub (i.e. sub pass information #1, . . . ,#k), the next information 126-6N, the pre-command 126PR about the playitem (P item), the post command 126PS about the play item (P item), andthe other information 126-6, and the like.

Here, the “pointer 126PT”, the “pre-command 126PR”, and the “postcommand 126PS” are the same as described above. Moreover, the “sub passtotal number” indicates the total number of the sub passes which existin the play list element. The “next information 126-6N” indicates theplay list element to be reproduced next.

Moreover, in FIG. 42, each sub pass information 126-2sub is shown in aform branched to the right toward the center, in the figure, and has aplurality of fields for recording a sub pass type, the slave play item(slave P item) total number, and a plurality of slave play item (slave Pitem) information 126-subPT (i.e. slave P item information #1, . . . ,#k), in order from the top in the figure.

Here, the “sub pass type” indicates what type of display is performed bythe sub pass, such as various menu display. The “slave P item totalnumber” indicates the total number of slave play items of the sub pass.

Each slave play item (slave P item) information 126-subPT is shown in aform branched toward the right end from the center in the figure, andhas a plurality of fields for recording a slave play item (slave P item)number and a start PTS of the master play item (master P item), in orderfrom the top in the figure.

Here, the “slave P item number” indicates the ID (identification) numberof the play item of the sub pass. The “start PTS (Presentation TimeStamp) of the master play item” indicates the reproduction time point ofthe slave item on the reproduction time scale of the master play item.

On the other hand, in FIG. 40, the item definition table 126-3 is shownin a branched form toward the lower right of the figure, and has aplurality of fields for recording the play item (P item) total number,and a plurality of play items (P items) 204 (i.e. P items #1, . . . ,#n), and the like, in order from the top in the figure.

Here, the “play item total number” indicates the total number of theitems 204 on the item definition table.

In FIG. 43, each item 204 is shown in a branched form to the upper rightside toward the center of the figure, and has a plurality of fields forrecording a play item (P item) type, a stream object play item (P item)204-stream, and the like, in order from the top in the figure.

Here, the “play item (P item) type” indicates the type of the play item.For example, in the case of the item for the stream object for themoving picture or video, it is set to a code “00h”, and in the case ofthe item for the stream object for the still picture, it is set to acode “10h”. In the case of the item for the object for various menus, itis set to a code “20h”.

Moreover, the stream object play item (P item) 204-stream is shown in aform branched to the right end from the center in the figure, and hasinformation for indicating an ES (Elementary Stream) index number, an INtime (IN point), an OUT time (OUT point), and the like, which arerelated to each play item, in order from the top in the figure.

Here, the “ES index number” indicates the ID (identification) number andthe type of the elementary stream to which the IN time and the OUT timeare applied. Moreover, the “IN time (IN point)” and the “OUT time (OUTpoint)” are as descried above, and the reproduction time point and theend time point of the item are written on a time basis of 90 kHz, forexample.

Incidentally, in FIG. 43, the item definition table 126-3 may include anitem 204-still for the still picture object, in place of such an item204 for the stream object, i.e. the item 204 for the moving picture orvideo. In this case, the item 204-still has information for indicatingthe type of the play item, a still picture object play item (P item),and the like.

Incidentally, the data amount of each of the title information setexplained above may be a fixed byte or a variable byte. Moreover, eachfield may have a structure in which a required number of each table canbe added.

(2) Object Information File:

Next, with reference to FIG. 44, the object information file 130 isexplained in detail by using one specific example. FIG. 44 schematicallyshows one specific example of the data structures of the AU (AssociateUnit) table 131 (refer to FIG. 3) constructed in the object informationfile 130 and the ES (Elementary Stream) map table 134 (refer to FIG. 3)related to the AU table 134.

In this specific example, as shown in FIG. 44, the object informationtable is stored in the object information file 130. The objectinformation table is provided with the AU table 131 shown in the upperpart of FIG. 44 and the ES map table 134 shown in the lower part.

In the upper part of FIG. 44, the AU table 131 may have a structure thatallows the required number of tables for each Field to be added. Forexample, if there are four AUs, it may have such a structure that thenumber of the Fields increases to four.

In the AU table 131, there are stored “AU table general information” inwhich the number of AUs and the pointer to each AU, and the like arewritten, and “the other information.”

The AU table 131 describes therein the Index number (Index number= . . .) of the corresponding ES map table 134, as the AU information 132Iwhich indicates an ES table Index #m in each PU #m corresponding to eachAU #n. Here, the “AU” is a unit corresponding to a “show” in TVbroadcast, for example, as mentioned above (especially, in the case of“multi-vision” broadcasting, it is a unit of a group of a plurality of“visions” which is changeable or selectable), and it includes one ormore PUs, each of which is a reproduction unit. Moreover, the “PU” is agroup of mutually changeable elementary streams which are included ineach AU, as described above, and the ES table Index #m corresponding toeach PU is specified by the PU information 302I. For example, ifmulti-view contents are provided with the AU, the AU stores therein aplurality of PUs, and each PU stores therein the pointers to a pluralityof elementary stream packet IDs which indicates the packets constitutingthe contents of each view. This indicates the Index number in the ES maptable 134, as described later.

In the lower part of FIG. 44, in the ES map table 134, there are storedES map table general information, a plurality of Indexes #m (m=1, 2, . .. ), and the “other information”, for each Field.

The “ES map table general information” describes therein the size of theES map table, the total number of Indexes, and the like.

The “Index #m” includes the elementary stream packet ID (ES_PID) of theentire elementary stream to be used for the reproduction, thecorresponding Index number, and the address information of theelementary stream.

In the embodiment, for example, if the elementary stream is the videostream of the MPEG 2 as described above, only the TS packet number ofthe TS packet at the head of the I picture, and the correspondingdisplay time length are written, as the address information, i.e. the ESaddress information 134 d, on the ES map table 134, by which the dataamount is tried to be reduced.

Because of the construction as described above, it is possible to obtainthe elementary stream packet ID (ES_PID) of the actual elementarystream, from the Index number of the ES map 134 specified from the AUtable 131. Moreover, since the address information of the elementarystream corresponding to the elementary stream packet ID can be obtainedat the same time, it is possible to reproduce the object data on thebasis of these information.

According to the data structure of the optical disc 100 explained above,even in adding a new title to the optical disc 100, necessaryinformation can be easily added, which is useful. On the other hand,even if some information becomes unnecessary as a result of editing orthe like, for example, what is to be done is simply not to refer to theinformation, and it is not necessary to actually delete the informationfrom the table, which is useful, as well.

Incidentally, in FIG. 44, even the ES_PID that is not referred to fromthe AU table 131 in the upper part is described in each Index of the ESmap table 134 in the lower part; however, it is not necessary todescribe the ES_PID that is not referred to, in this manner. However, ifthe more versatile ES map table 134 is prepared in advance by describingthe ES_PID that is not referred to in this manner, it is not necessaryto reconstruct the ES map table, in reediting the content, such astrying the authoring operation again, which is advantageous.

Now, an explanation is given, regarding the reproduction order ofvarious files or the like, in the reproduction of the optical disc 100having such a data structure as the one specific example, explained withreference to FIG. 37 to FIG. 44.

Firstly, the disc header 112 x is reproduced out of the titleinformation set shown in FIG. 37. As a part of that, the title table 112xtt shown in FIG. 38 is reproduced, and from it, the title menu startaddress or title contents start address is obtained.

Next, in accordance with the obtained address information, thereproduction of the title information 200 shown in FIG. 37 is started.More specifically, the reproduction of the title element 200-2 shown inFIG. 39 is performed, to thereby obtain the play list set number.Moreover, the pointer 200PT to the play lists #1 to #k is obtained.Incidentally, by adopting such a construction that the play list 126 isspecified by the pointer 200PT, it is possible to share, among theplurality of titles, the plurality of play lists which is in the playlist set specified by the reproduction of the title element 200-2 inadvance.

Next, the play list set table 112 xpt shown in FIG. 38 is reproduced, tothereby obtain the play list set start address. On the basis of this,the reproduction of the play list set 126S shown in FIG. 40 is started,and the PL presentation 126-1 xi is firstly reproduced.

Then, the PL presentation 126-1 xi, one example of the required functioninformation, is compared with the reproduction function (i.e. videoperformance, audio performance, and the like) of the informationreproduction system during the reproduction of the optical disc 100, andthus, one optimum play list 126 is selected from the play list set 126Sshown in FIG. 40.

Next, the selected play list 126 is reproduced. More specifically, theplay list element 126-2 shown in FIG. 41 is reproduced. At this time,firstly, the pre command 126PR is executed, then, the master P itemnumber shown in FIG. 42 is obtained. Then, the Item definition tableshown in FIG. 43 is referred to, to thereby reproduce the relevant Item204. The reproduction of this Item 204 is performed by reproducing therelevant TS object in accordance with the ES index number, the IN time,and the OUT time, which are obtained by reproducing the stream object Pitem 204-stream (see FIG. 44). Then, the post command 126PS shown inFIG. 41 is executed. Moreover, the play list element to be reproducednext is specified in accordance with the next information 126-6N, andits reproduction is repeated in the same manner.

As explained in detail with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 44, according tothis embodiment, one play list is selected from a plurality of playlists, for example, with taking into account the video performance orthe audio performance in the information reproduction system. As theresult, the content information reproducible by the informationreproduction system is appropriately reproduced.

Incidentally, in the aforementioned embodiment, the explanation is madeon the optical disc 100 as an example of the information record mediumand the recorder or player of the optical disc 100 as an example of theinformation record reproduction apparatus. Nevertheless, the presentinvention is not limited to the optical disc and the player or recorderthereof, but is applicable to various record media and the recorders orplayers thereof, supporting other high density recording or hightransfer rate.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments,and various changes may be made, if desired, without departing from theessence or spirit of the invention which can be read from the claims andthe entire specification. An information record medium, an apparatus forand a method of recording the information, an apparatus for and a methodof reproducing the information, an apparatus for and a method ofrecording and reproducing the information, a computer program forcontrolling the record or the reproduction, and a data structureincluding a control signal, all of which involves such changes, are alsointended to be within the technical scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

An information record medium, a apparatus for and a method of recordingthe information, an apparatus for and a method of reproducing theinformation, an apparatus for and a method of recording and reproducingthe information, a computer program for controlling the record or thereproduction, and a data structure including a control signal, all ofwhich are according to the present invention, can be applied to ahigh-density optical disc for consumer or industrial use, such as a DVD,on which various information, such as the video information, the audioinformation and the sub-picture information, can be recorded at highdensity and further can be applied to a DVD player, a DVD recorder, andthe like. Moreover, they can be applied to an information record medium,an information record reproduction apparatus, or the like, which aremounted on or can be connected to various computer equipment forconsumer or industrial use, for example.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An information record medium, which can berecorded by an information recording apparatus or which can bereproduced by an information reproducing apparatus, on which there arerecorded in a non-transitory state: a plurality of content informations,wherein (i) the plurality of content informations being made of atransport stream, (ii-1) the transport stream including a plurality ofpartial streams and (ii-2) the transport stream is multiplexed by analigned unit, (iii-1) the aligned unit is formed from of a plurality ofsource packets, (iii-2) a head portion of the aligned unit correspondsto a head portion of the source packets and (iii-3) the aligned unitdoes not start from a management information packet, (iv) one sourcepacket includes one transport packet, (v) one of the plurality ofpartial streams is one of a video stream, an audio stream or asub-picture stream, (vi) each of the plurality of partial streams beingmultiplexed by one of the source packets, (vii) the source packet beinga physically accessible source packet and (viii) each transport packetstores pieces of one of video information in the video stream, audioinformation in the audio stream and sub-picture information in thesub-picture stream; a plurality of first informations, wherein (i-1)each of the plurality of first informations is not multiplexed by thesource packet unit and (i-2) each of the plurality of first informationswhich indicates a plurality of play list informations, (ii-1) each ofthe plurality of play list informations including a plurality of playitem informations and (ii-2) each of the plurality of play listinformations indicates (ii-2-1) a number of the play item informations,(ii-2-2) the number of sub path information and (ii-2-3) type of subpath which indicates presentation type of sub path, (iii-1) each of theplurality of play item informations defining a reproduction sequence ofone part of the plurality of content informations by a unit of an item,(iii-2) each of the plurality of play item informations is only controlinformation for controlling the reproduction of the entity informationand (iii-3) each of the plurality of play item information indicatesstart time and end time of the one part of the plurality of contentinformation by a unit of the item, (iv) each of the plurality of subpath information defines the sub-picture information which is reproducedwith the content information defined by the play item information, (v)one content information can be shared by the plurality of play iteminformations; object information which is not multiplexed by the packetunit, wherein (i) the object information includes a relationshipdefinition information, defining a relationship between an ID of each ofthe transport packets to be multiplexed and address information of eachof the plurality of partial streams which construct the contentinformation and (ii) the object information stores therein a pluralityof records each of which includes a combination of the ID and theaddress information; and a disc information file for storing titleinformation, wherein (i) the title information is control information soas to reproduce the plurality of content informations as a title whichis the logically united information unit, (ii) the title informationspecifies one or a plurality of the first information and (iii) thetitle information acts as a part of reproduction control information tocontrol the reproduction of the content information, wherein some of theplurality of content informations are different from each other inreproduction functions required for an information reproduction systemto reproduce the plurality of content informations and are adapted to atleast partially construct title which is a logically united informationunit, a reproduction sequence of said some of the plurality of contentinformations are defined by the plurality of play list informationsindicated by one of the first informations, each play item informationspecifies each of a plurality of object information, all of theplurality of content informations are packetized and are stored in oneobject data file, all of the object informations are not packetized andare stored in one object information file, all of the plurality of playlist informations are not packetized and are stored in one play listinformation file.
 2. The information record medium according to claim 1,wherein required function information indicating the reproductionfunction is further recorded in a non-transitory state for each of theplurality of play list informations.
 3. The information record mediumaccording to claim 2, wherein the reproduction function is a videoreproduction performance and an audio reproduction performance requiredfor the information reproduction system.
 4. The information recordmedium according to claim 3, wherein the required function informationis of information, which indicates the video reproduction performanceand the audio reproduction performance and is recorded for each of theplurality of play list informations.
 5. The information record mediumaccording to claim 4, wherein priority information indicating which ofthe video reproduction performance and the audio reproductionperformance is to be prioritized is further recorded in a non-transitorystate.
 6. An information reproduction apparatus for reproducing theinformation record medium according to claim 5, said apparatuscomprising: a reproduction device capable of reproducing the pluralityof content informations, the plurality of first informations, therequired function information, the object information and the titleinformation; and a control device for selecting one play listinformation defining the reproduction sequence of the contentinformation reproducible by the information reproduction apparatus, fromamong the plurality of play list informations indicated by one of thefirst informations by comparing (i) the video reproduction function andthe audio reproduction function indicated by the required functioninformation reproduced by the reproduction device with (ii) videoreproduction function and audio reproduction function of the informationreproduction apparatus indicated by a set function information set forthe information reproduction apparatus, and controlling the reproductiondevice to reproduce the content information in accordance with thereproduction sequence defined by the selected play list information,wherein the control device selects one play list informationcorresponding to the vide reproduction performance or the audioreproduction performance prioritized in accordance with the priorityinformation, from among the plurality of play list informations includedin the same play list.
 7. The information record medium according toclaim 3, wherein the required function information comprises a requiredfunction information table in which information indicating whether ornot different video reproduction performances are required for each ofpredetermined ranks and information indicating whether or not differentaudio reproduction performances are required for each of predeterminedranks are arranged vertically and horizontally as a matrix.
 8. Theinformation record medium according to claim 7, wherein priorityinformation indicating a priority among various combination of saidvideo reproduction performances different for each of said predeterminedranks and said audio reproduction performances different for each ofsaid predetermined ranks is further recorded in a non-transitory state.9. An information reproduction apparatus for reproducing the informationrecord medium according to claim 2, said apparatus comprising: areproduction device capable of reproducing the plurality of contentinformations, the plurality of first informations, the required functioninformation, the object information and the title information; and acontrol device for selecting one play list information defining thereproduction sequence of the content information reproducible by theinformation reproduction apparatus, from among the plurality of playlist informations indicated by one of the first informations bycomparing (i) the reproduction function indicated by the requiredfunction information reproduced by the reproduction device with (ii)reproduction function of the information reproduction apparatusindicated by a set function information set for the informationreproduction apparatus, and controlling the reproduction device toreproduce the content information in accordance with the reproductionsequence defined by the selected play list information.
 10. Theinformation reproduction apparatus according to claim 9, wherein thereproduction function is a video reproduction performance and an audioreproduction performance required for the information reproductionsystem, the required function information is of information indicatingthe video reproduction performance and the audio reproductionperformance recorded for each of the plurality of play listinformations, the set function information indicates the videoreproduction performance and the audio reproduction performance of theinformation reproduction apparatus, and the set function informationincludes information indicating whether or not the informationreproduction apparatus has different video reproduction performances foreach of predetermined ranks and information indicating whether or notthe information reproduction apparatus has different audio reproductionperformances for each of predetermined ranks.
 11. The information recordmedium according to claim 1, wherein each of the play list informationsincludes pointer information designating item information, which is alogically accessible reproduction unit and composes the contentinformation.
 12. The information record medium according to claim 1,wherein the title information includes pointer information designatingat least one first information, which corresponds to the contentinformation to be reproduced.
 13. An information reproduction apparatusfor reproducing the information record medium according to claim 1, saidapparatus comprising: a reproduction device capable of reproducing theplurality of content informations, the first informations, the play listinformations, the object information and the title information; and acontrol device for selecting one play list information from among theplurality of play list informations indicated by one of the firstinformations, and controlling the reproduction device to reproduce thecontent information in accordance with the selected play listinformation.
 14. The information reproduction apparatus according toclaim 13, wherein the reproduction function is a video reproductionperformance and an audio reproduction performance required for theinformation reproduction system.
 15. A computer readable recordingmedium recording thereon a computer program, in a non-transitory state,for a reproduction control to control a computer disposed at theinformation reproduction apparatus according to claim 13, said programmaking the computer function as at least a part of the reproductiondevice and the control device.
 16. An information reproduction method ofreproducing the information record medium according to claim 1, saidmethod implemented with an information reproduction apparatus comprisinga reproduction device capable of reproducing the plurality of contentinformations, the first informations, the play list informations, theobject information and the title information, said method comprising: afirst control process of selecting one play list information from amongthe plurality of play list informations indicated by one of the firstinformations, and a second controlling process of controlling thereproduction device to reproduce the content information in accordancewith the selected play list information.
 17. An information recordapparatus comprising: a first record device for recording a plurality ofcontent informations, wherein (i) the plurality of content informationsbeing made of a transport stream, (ii-1) the transport stream includes aplurality of partial streams and (ii-2) the transport stream ismultiplexed by an aligned unit, (iii-1) the aligned unit is formed of aplurality of source packets, (iii-2) a head portion of the aligned unitcorresponds to a head portion of the source packet and (iii-3) thealigned unit does not start from a management information packet, (iv)one source packet includes one transport packet, (v) one of theplurality of partial streams is one of a video stream, an audio streamor a sub-picture stream, (vi) each of the plurality of partial streamsbeing multiplexed by the source packet, (vii) the source packet being aphysically accessible source packet and (viii) each transport packetstores pieces of one of video information in the video stream, audioinformation in the audio stream or sub-picture information in thesub-picture stream; a second record device for recording a plurality offirst informations, wherein (i-1) each of the plurality of firstinformations is not multiplexed by the packet unit and (i-2) each of theplurality of first informations indicates a plurality of play listinformations, (ii-1) each of the plurality of play list informationsincludes a plurality of play item informations and (ii-2) each of theplurality of play list informations indicates (ii-2-1) the number of theplay item information, (ii-2-2) the number of sub path information and(ii-2-3) type of sub path which indicates presentation type of sub Path,(iii-1) each of the plurality of play item informations defining areproduction sequence of one part of the plurality of contentinformations by a unit of an item, (iii-2) each of the plurality of playitem informations is only control information for controlling thereproduction of the entity information and (iii-3) each of the pluralityof play item information indicates start time and end time of the onepart of the plurality of content informations by a unit of the item,(iv) each of the plurality of sub path informations defines thesub-picture information which is reproduced with the content informationdefined by the play item information, (v) one content information can beshared by the plurality of play item informations; a third record devicefor recording object information which is not multiplexed by the packetunit, wherein (i) the object information includes a relationshipdefinition information, defining a relationship between an ID of each ofthe transport packets to be multiplexed and address information of eachof the plurality of partial streams which construct the contentinformation and (ii) the object information stores therein a pluralityof records each of which includes a combination of the ID and theaddress information; and a fourth recording device for recording a discinformation file for storing title information, wherein (i) the titleinformation is control information so as to reproduce the plurality ofcontent informations as a title which is the logically unitedinformation unit, (ii) the title information specifies one or aplurality of the first information and (iii) the title information actsas a part of reproduction control information to control thereproduction of the content information, wherein some of the pluralityof content informations are different from each other in reproductionfunctions required for an information reproduction system to reproducethe plurality of content informations and are adapted to at leastpartially construct title which is a logically united information unit,a reproduction sequence of said some of the plurality of contentinformations are defined by the plurality of play list informationsindicated by one of the first informations, each play item informationspecifies each of a plurality of object information, all of theplurality of content informations are packetized and are stored in oneobject data file, all of the object informations are not packetized andare stored in one object information file, all of the plurality of playlist informations are not packetized and are stored in one play listinformation file.
 18. The information record apparatus according toclaim 17, wherein said apparatus further comprises a fifth record devicefor further recording required function information indicating thereproduction function for each of the plurality of play listinformations.
 19. An information record method, which is performed by aninformation record apparatus, comprising: a first record process ofrecording a plurality of content informations, wherein (i) the pluralityof content informations being made of a transport stream, (ii-1) thetransport stream includes a plurality of partial streams and (ii-2) thetransport stream is multiplexed by an aligned unit, (iii-1) the alignedunit comprises a plurality of source packets, (iii-2) a head portion ofthe aligned unit corresponds to a head portion of the source packets and(iii-3) the aligned unit does not start from a management informationpacket, (iv) one source packet includes one transport packet, (v) one ofthe plurality of partial streams is one of a video stream, an audiostream or a sub-picture stream, (vi), each of the plurality of partialstreams being multiplexed by the source a packet, (vii) the sourcepacket being a physically accessible source packet and (viii) eachtransport packet stores pieces of one of video information in the videostream, audio information in the audio stream or sub-picture informationin the sub-picture stream; a second record process of recording aplurality of first informations, wherein (i-1) each of the plurality offirst informations is not multiplexed by the packet and (i-2) each ofthe plurality of first information indicates a plurality of play listinformations, (ii-1) each of the plurality of play list informationsincludes a plurality of play item informations and (ii-2) each of theplurality of play list informations indicates (ii-2-1) a number of theplay item information, (ii-2-2) a number of sub path information and(ii-2-3) a type of sub path which indicates presentation type of subPath, (iii-1) each of the plurality of play item informations defining areproduction sequence of one part of the plurality of contentinformations by a unit of an item, (iii-2) each of the plurality of playitem informations is only control information for controlling thereproduction of the entity information and (iii-3) each of the pluralityof play item informations indicates start time and end time of one partof the plurality of content informations by a unit of the item, (iv)each of the plurality of sub path informations defines sub-pictureinformation which is reproduced with the content information defined bythe play item information, (v) one content information can be shared bythe plurality of play item informations; a third record process ofrecording object information which is not multiplexed by the packetunit, wherein (i) the object information includes a relationshipdefinition information, defining a relationship between an ID of each ofthe transport packets to be multiplexed and address information of eachof the plurality of partial streams which construct the contentinformation and (ii) the object information stores therein a pluralityof records each of which includes a combination of the ID and theaddress information; and a fourth recording process of recording a discinformation file for storing title information, wherein (i) the titleinformation is control information so as to reproduce the plurality ofcontent informations as a title which is the logically unitedinformation unit, (ii) the title information specifies one or aplurality of the first informations and (iii) the title information actsas a part of reproduction control information to control thereproduction of the content information, wherein some of the pluralityof content informations are different from each other in reproductionfunctions required for an information reproduction system to reproducethe plurality of content informations and are adapted to at leastpartially construct title which is a logically united information unit,a reproduction sequence of said some of the plurality of contentinformations are defined by the plurality of play list informationsindicated by one of the first informations, each play item informationspecifies each of a plurality of object information, all of theplurality of content informations are packetized and are stored in oneobject data file, all of the object informations are not packetized andare stored in one object information file, all of the plurality of playlist informations are not packetized and are stored in one play listinformation file.
 20. The information record method according to claim19, wherein said method further comprises a fifth record process offurther recording required function information indicating thereproduction function for each of the plurality of play listinformations.
 21. A computer readable recording medium recording thereona computer program, in a non-transitory state, for a record control tocontrol a computer disposed at the information record apparatusaccording to claim 17, said program making the computer function as atleast a part of the first record device, the second record device, thethird record device and the fourth recording device.